After months of anticipation, tourist trips to St. Martin’s Island are set to resume from December 1. Three vessels; MV Karnaphuli Express, MB Baro Aulia and Carey Sindabad, will carry visitors from Cox’s Bazar’s Nuniachar jetty to the island, with strict environmental and safety regulations in place to protect the coral-rich destination.

Four additional vessels, including MV Bay Cruise, MV Kajol, Carey Cruise & Dine and Atlantic Cruise, are ready to start operations as soon as administrative approvals are granted.

The trips will continue until January 31, with a daily limit of 2,000 tourists to prevent overcrowding and protect the island’s unique biodiversity.

Tickets must be purchased through the Bangladesh Tourism Board’s official online portal, which provides a travel pass and QR code for verification.

Authorities have arranged separate security and inspection checks at both Nuniachar and St. Martin’s jetties to ensure compliance with 12 guidelines issued by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

These rules include restrictions on night-time activities, no lighting on beaches, bans on barbecues, motor vehicles, harvesting or selling wildlife and limitations on single-use plastics.

Tourists are encouraged to carry personal water flasks.

Earlier, the island had been closed to visitors since February 1 to allow environmental recovery. During December and January, tourists will be allowed overnight stays, unlike in November when visits were restricted to daytime only.

Trips will again be suspended from February for nine months to safeguard the island’s ecosystem.

District authorities and Environment Department emphasized strict enforcement of these regulations to preserve St. Martin’s coral reefs, marine life and natural beauty while ensuring safe and controlled tourism.