People from different parts of the country crowded natural sites in Sylhet region on a four-day vacation for Durga Puja.
Tour operators said more than 0.4 million (04 lakh) vacationers thronged the tourists spots in Sylhet region due to favourable weather.
Amid a heavy rush of holidaymakers, many of them did not get hotel seats. Some families from Dhaka cancelled their pre-planned tours.
As the weather was favourable, the number of tourists exceeded over 04 lakh this time, officials concerned and tour operators said.
People got out of their homes for travel after they were stuck in the political situation for a long time.
Most of them took the chance this time for visiting Sylhet region which is full of natural sites.
Almost all the hotels, rest house and resorts were booked for the four-day holiday.
Alongside the people from different professions, public and private company officials and employees from various districts rushed to Sylhet to enjoy themselves and the families. However, most of them were from the capital.
Tourism officials said that huge tourists gathered in Sylhet as well as in Moulvibazar, Habiganj and Sunamganj to enjoy at different spots spread across. People from different parts of the country booked hotels-rest house and resorts in Sylhet through various means.
Anwar Khan from Dhaka’s Mohammadpur are said, “I had to book hotel accommodation for 4 persons in Srimangal, 10 days before as rush was too much. We traveled to Sadapathar, Jafflong and Lalakhal too.”
Saifur Rahman of Dhaka’s Mirpur had to cancel his long desired tour plan as he failed to book hotel seats for his five-member family on a house boat for visiting Tanguar Haor.
Owner of a house boat told this correspondent that all the boats were booked 4 to 5 days ahead of the holidays this time. We had to deny many people, he added.
Over 200 house boats are there to make day-night visit to Tanguar haor in Sunamganj.
Hotel Golden City Managing Director Mitu Das said that since the weather had been tourist friendly, as well as the holiday.
There had been a slowdown in various sectors, the tourism sector had been no exception. This time we got a respite, he added.
Some tour operators like Ataur Rahman said that long months it had been very positive for the tourism sector of Sylhet. The hoteliers are hoping better days ahead, he added.
He also said that the reason for the large number of tourists in Sylhet there might be an uncertain situation in coming months.
The main attraction of the tourists was the region of natural sites in hills of Sylhet, Moulvibazar and Habiganj as well as Tanuar haor and others in Sunamganj.
An official at Regional Tourist Police said Sylhet remains crowded with tourists during weekends and various holidays. Tourist police had to take extra measures during the four-day holidays amid huge.