ASSIGNMENT ON: SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN COX'S

BAZAR, BANGLADESH

DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT

SEMESTER: SPRING-2021 COURSE CODE: ITHM 3703

COURSE TITLE: TOURISM PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT

SUBMITTED TO:
MD. SAIFUL ISLAM
LECTURER, ITHM PRIMEASIA UNIVERSITY

SUBMITTED BY:
YASIN ARAFAT
ID NO: 203 011 055
SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN COX'S
BAZAR, BANGLADESH
INTRODUCTION
Ecotourism is a form of tourism that attempts to minimize its impact upon the environment, is ecologically sound,
and avoids the negative impacts of many large-scale tourism developments undertaken in the areas which have not
previously been developed.
Ecotourism is a sub-component of the field of sustainable tourism. Ecotourism’s perceived potential as an effective
tool for sustainable development is the main reason why developing countries are now embracing it and including
it in their economic development and conservation strategies. Ecotourism, as an alternative tourism, involves
visiting natural areas in order to learn, to study, or to carry out activities environmentally friendly, that is, a tourism
based on the nature experience, which enables the economic and social development of local communities. It
focuses primarily on experiencing and learning about nature, its landscape, flora, fauna and their habitats, as well
as cultural artifacts from the locality. A symbiotic and complex relationship between the environment and tourist
activities is possible when this philosophy can be translated into appropriate policy, careful planning and tactful
practicum. Carefully planned and operated ecotourism sites, especially if it is village-based and includes local
participation, is able to provide direct benefits that might offset pressure from other less sustainable activities that
make use of natural and cultural resources. Eco tourism, natural resources, cultural heritage, rural lifestyle and an
integrated tourism is a type of local economic activities. Therefore, ecotourism in naturel and cultural areas was
carried out with a number of elements in their natural landscape and cultural landscape (water, vista, topography,
vegetation, clean air), as well as in the variety of recreational activities suitable for all kinds of environments.
Therefore, ecotourism and its natural assets and raw materials to create, as well as directing people to travel is an
attractive force.

Ecotourism helps in community development by providing the alternate source of livelihood to local community
which is more sustainable. Its aim is to conserve resources, especially biological diversity, and maintain sustainable
use of resources, which can bring ecological experience to travelers, conserve the ecological environment and gain
economic benefit. However, achieving the aims in ecotourism depends on whether they are environmentally and
ecologically sustainable and economically applicable. Ecotourism helps in involving local community for the
conservation of the ecology and biodiversity of the area that biodiversity in return provides the economic incentives
to the local community. Eco-tourism contributes to conservation of biodiversity; sustains the well-being of local
people; involves responsible action on the part of tourist and the tourism industry; promotes small and medium
tourism enterprises; requires lowest possible consumption of natural resources; stresses local participation,
ownership, and business opportunities, particularly for rural people; and above all includes the learning experiences.
In order for ecotourism to encourage patterns of sustainability, which can benefit local communities, protect the
environment, and be economically viable, it must be comprehensive and account for the complexity of issues that
have been mentioned in this paper.
The tourism industry has emerged as one of the leading service industries in the global economy in recent decades.
The gradual development of tourism and the change of its status within society and economy go hand in hand with
scientific and research activities in this sphere. Contributing a significant share of the global gross national product
and the total employment of many countries, tourism has become the lead economic branch of numerous countries.
The tourism sector accounts for about 7% of world exports and 10% of world GDP. Tourism is integrated in 400
industries, annually provides more than USD 1.5 trillion in revenue, and is actually the only industry in the world
that has shown steady growth in recent years.
The modern development of tourism is based on the authentic quality of space and resources. For these reasons,
and especially for its own long-term sustainable development, the tourism economy in Uzbekistan has to protect,
improve and maintain the rational use of space and resources as its top priority. Ecotourism can contribute to
environmental protection and conservation. It is a way to raise awareness of environmental values, and can serve
as a tool to finance the protection of natural areas and increase their economic competence. Because of the special
relationships common between the resources and local communities of protected areas, ecotourism potential as a
supplementary or alternative livelihood for local communities is frequently emphasized. Given that ecotourism
involves multiple goals, it inevitably involves stakeholders with di event interests, roles, and responsibilities.
Despite government interest in ecotourism development, its use has not been systematically studied with empirical
evidence to assess the ways in which tourism stakeholders in Uzbekistan conceptualize ecotourism in the first place.

Sustainable development through tourism has been an important topic of discussion in recent years. Tourism is a
major agent of transformation. Wherever it occurs, tourism development changes society and its environment.
Development brings new value to local resources and new strains on the existing infrastructure. In addition to
contrary evidence of tourism being a net contributor to poverty reduction and alleviation, tourism also contributes
substantially to resource consumption and global change. It is therefore critical that tourism development is
undertaken to maximize benefits for the destination’s community.
The development of ecotourism, a form of sustainable tourism, has been an important factor in the development of
emerging destinations. When it comes to ecotourism, there are di event definitions and interpretations of the term.
The key principles of ecotourism cover decreasing the negative environmental impact, increasing cultural and
environmental awareness, and o erring positive experiences for visitors and economic empowerment for the local
population, while enhancing sensitivity to the host country environmental and economic policy. Sustainable tourism
is the freedom of tourist traveling, satisfying their economic, social, and aesthetic needs, while also preserving the
characteristics of the local natural and social environment, and the cultural and historical heritage. Ecotourism has
been shown to preserve threatened biodiversity and enhance local economies in remote regions, though some
researchers argue that the specific meaning and implications of the term are not clearly articulated. At least three
elements of ecotourism can be distinguished: first, the experience of close contact with nature and people from di
event cultures; second, the choice of tourism forms that maximize revenues for poorer people rather than large
(international) tourism companies; and third, reducing the overall environmental impact of travel. Ecotourism has
the potential to benefit the environment by contributing to environmental protection and conservation. It is a way
to raise awareness of environmental values, and can serve a tool to finance the protection of natural areas and
increase their economic competence.
Because of the special relationships common between the resources and local communities of protected areas,
ecotourism potential as a supplementary or alternative livelihood for local communities is frequently emphasized.
Given that ecotourism involves multiple goals, it inevitably involves stakeholders with different interests, roles, and
responsibilities. Ecotourism development usually involves a wide variety of stakeholders, including tourists,
residents, governments, managers, and so on. As the description of ecotourism is made more complex and inclusive
of multiple purposes , in practice it becomes increasingly di cult to meet various intentions simultaneously, mostly
when confronted with complex natural, social and economic situations.
The importance of ecotourism has long been recognized politically, publicly and scholarly, and the related research
agenda has grown significantly in the past two decades .A seminal paper effectively summarized the progress in
ecotourism research and highlights that past studies have primarily been concerned with five major themes, namely
the supply of ecotourism activities, the demand for ecotourism products and services, the role of various institutions
in planning, managing, and monitoring the development of ecotourism, the impacts of ecotourism, and the
relationship between ecotourism and other tourism types and non-tourism economic activities. According to , the
research within these five themes is, however, unbalanced, in that an increasing number of studies are examining
the growing demand for ecotourism and the resultant accelerating impacts of ecotourism activities. Such themes as
the supply side of ecotourism remain under-studied, and further research is required to expand this important field
of knowledge. Interestingly, the call for more research on the supply side of ecotourism was first made in 1999, but
the response to this call has apparently been insouciant to date. Indeed, the review paper by Weaver and Lawton
suggests that the bulk of supply-side studies have focused on ecotourism venues operating, in particular, on
protected areas. Further, scholarly interest in the industry providing ecotourism services has been limited in that the
prime focus of existing research has been on the business success of ecotourism ventures. The motives of tour
operators and tourism businesses to engage in ecotourism have been studied to a much lesser degree.
The motives of tour operators and tourism businesses to engage in ecotourism can be intrinsic and extrinsic. Such
ecotourism stakeholders as policy-makers and destination management professionals should strive to comprehend
these motives so as to design appropriate measures encouraging business engagement in ecotourism.
Arguably, the goal should be the right balance of motives; while tour operators and tourism businesses can be driven
by a genuine desire to promote low-impact tourism in a specific destination (the intrinsic motive), it is critical to
sustain this desire with tailored supportive actions and dedicated incentive mechanisms (the extrinsic motive). If
one motive is absent or insouciantly articulated, it is fair to expect that tour operators and tourism businesses may
gradually drop their initial intention to invest in ecotourism. This underlines the importance of recognizing the needs
and wants of all ecotourism stakeholders, especially power- and finance-holders, from the outset of ecotourism
projects. Indeed, if a tour operator is intrinsically motivated to engage in ecotourism but national policy-makers do
not see potential in developing ecotourism in a specific destination “and therefore provide no suitable support “then
this miss-match in expectations may result in an unsuccessful business investment. Likewise, if policy-makers are
willing to promote ecotourism in a specific destination as a vehicle for socio-economic development and/or
environmental conservation, but a tour operator is only motivated by short-term financial gains, then this may lead
to a conflict of interest, with subsequent challenges in ecotourism planning and management. Ideally, all ecotourism
stakeholders should understand the perspectives of each other and work collaboratively toward a mutual goal of
sustained ecotourism development in a given destination. This is particularly important in the context of developing
countries and remote destinations, where the lack of resources and traditions of democratic governance may not
only undermine the immediate success of ecotourism but also endanger the long-term well-being of natural
ecosystems and local communities. Nevertheless, ecotourism is often viewed as an easy entry into niche tourism
markets, drawing on a perceived inexhaustible supply of natural products and gesturing toward ideals of
sustainability and environmental awareness.
The Aral Sea region is abundant with historical, archaeological, and ecological sites. The unique nature of the main
river banks and their flora and fauna suggests that these places have great potential for ecotourism opportunities.
The main functions of ecotourism—to protect natural areas, provide competitive tourism experience, and enhance
local economies through nature protection, environmental education, and rural empowerment may stimulate the
rapid development of tourism, as well as other sectors of the economy, withhold the ongoing environmental
degradation of the Aral Sea region, and improve the socio-economic well-being of the local population.
The concept of ecotourism is much related to some other concepts of tourism like, wildlife tourism or adventure
tourism. Different researchers describe the ecotourism as one of the extended versions of mass tourism. Some
researcher try to demonstrate the term ecotourism as responsible tourism. The term ecotourism came to the limelight
over the last three decades as an alternative to mass tourism and as a meaning to address the untouched tourism
considering the less favorable ecological and social consequences .During the period of globalization, both the
developed and the developing world facing the challenges of protecting the natural resource worldwide. But the
demand for travelling and tourism, especially in the natural areas is increasing day by day. in recent decades, tourism
sector has become a multimillion dollar industry, as people are more interested to spend their leisure time in different
attractive places around the world .In the recent decades, ecotourism emerged as one of the most economic, effective
and environmentally friendly way of utilizing natural resources and maintain sustainable development in natural
reserves (li & Han). Das (2011) describe ecotourism as, “ecotourism, defined as responsible travel to natural areas,
that conserves the environment and improves the welfare of local people, has caught the attention of diverse
interests, both as an economically profitable leisure activity, and as a means of conservation and development”.
Goodwin (1996) defined ecotourism as, “low impact nature tourism, which contributes to the maintenance of
species and habitats either directly through a contribution to conservation and/or indirectly by providing revenue to
the local community sufficient for local people to value, and therefore protect, their wildlife heritage area as a source
of income”. Wikipedia defines ecotourism as, “Ecotourism is a form of tourism involving visiting fragile, pristine,
and relatively undisturbed natural areas, intended as a low-impact and often small scale alternative to standard
commercial (mass) tourism. It means responsible travel to natural areas, conserving the environment and improving
the wellbeing of the local people”. Again UNWTO defines some characteristics of ecotourism. According to
UNWTO ecotourism refers to forms of tourism which have the following characteristics:

1. All nature-based forms of tourism in which the main motivation of the tourists is the observation and appreciation
of nature as well as the traditional cultures prevailing in natural areas.
2. It contains educational and interpretation features.
3. It is generally, but not exclusively organized by specialized tour operators for small groups. Service provider
partners at the destinations tend to be small, locally owned businesses.
4. It minimizes negative impacts upon the natural and socio-cultural environment.
5. It supports the maintenance of natural areas which are used as ecotourism attractions by:

 Generating economic benefits for host communities, organizations and authorities managing natural areas with
conservation purposes;
 Providing alternative employment and income opportunities for local communities;
 Increasing awareness towards the conservation of natural and cultural assets, both among locals and tourists.
Destination Sustainability is the consulting business of Brian T. Mullis, dedicated to advancing corporate
responsibility and driving local economic opportunities that benefit people and the planet.
A tourist destination can mean a country, a region within a country, a city, village or resort. Whatever type of
destination, the marketing tasks are the same: creating a favorable image of the destination at to the target segments
of visitors, the design of instruments to support and disseminate the image and, last but not least, promoting the
destination image in areas of origin. These topics will be covered in this article, focusing on the elements that define
a tourist destination, the features of a destination, but also the elements that we insist upon in defining a destination
image and its competitiveness, which confers a durability surplus. Tourist destinations with limited financial
resources for marketing activities are facing serious difficulties in producing an impact on the tourist market. It is
therefore vital for the destination study to adopt a marketing policy such as “want it, get it”, thus directing efforts
towards clearly defined targets and using the most effective marketing tools.
The destination identity is “the principal means of identification, but also the source of associations made by the
consumer, which represent the links between values and brand” (Lindstrom, 2009). In the case of tourist destination,
the identity elements are those which are constituted most of the times in attractiveness elements (which add value
and / or uniqueness to the destination) and, at the same time, in main motivation for choosing it. The main feature
of the selected destinations is their involvement in promoting social, cultural and environmentally sustainable
models.

CLASSIFICATION OF TOURISM
Fennell considers that ecotourism exits within the broader classification of tourism types which, at an initial level,
can be divided into the following types:

 Mass Tourism
 Alternative Tourism
Mass tourism we saw as the more traditional form of tourism development where short-term, free-market
principles dominate and the maximization of income is paramount. The development of the tourism industry
was originally seen as a desirable and relatively ‘clean’ industry for nations and regions to pursue. This was
particularly true in terms of benefits in foreign exchange earnings, employment and infrastructural development
such as transport networks.
IMPACT OF ECO-TOURISM
The skyrocketing demand for the tourism, especially ecotourism lead different stakeholders to rethink about the
ecotourism industry once again. At this time, the thinking is all about sustainable and ecofriendly tourism.
Ecotourism has a great impact on different aspects in different dimensions like, economic, social and environmental
impacts.
The impacts of tourism can be sorted into four general categories:

 Economic Impact
 Social Impact
 Cultural Impact
 Environmental Impact
ECONOMIC IMPACTS
Tourism has a variety of economic impacts. Tourists contribute to sales, profits, jobs, tax revenues, and income in
an area. The most direct effects occur within the primary tourism sectors --lodging, restaurants, transportation,
amusements, and retail trade.
Sustainability implies permanence, so sustainable tourism includes optimum use of resources, including biological
diversity; minimization of ecological, cultural and social impacts; and maximization of benefits for conservation
and local communities.
Sustainability in a destination generates more local jobs and improves the quality of work. It provides more
opportunities for local people to start their own business, in tourism or tourism related areas. Sustainability increases
the positive feeling inside the community for its place.
There are both positive and negative effects on communities related to the economic impacts of tourism in their
communities. A positive impact can refer to the increase in jobs, a higher quality of life for locals, and an increase
in wealth of an area.
Economic objectives

 Growth
 Equity
 Efficiency

Tourism especially ecotourism impacts enormously both economic and social aspects particularly in rural habitants
and their areas. Ecotourism directly create jobs for the local people and produce array of benefits such as taking
care of the tourists, housekeeping. Infrastructure development, poverty reduction, enhancing the standard of living,
etc. are some of the indirect impact of developing ecotourism in a particular area. Despite all these benefits, the
local people can generate income in different forms of local business. On the other hand, different indirect jobs are
being created through the promotion of ecotourism. Moreover, the establishing of hotel, motel, restaurants is
growing and with the rise of these substructures, the demand for quality waiter, cleaner, supplier, sweeper, chef,
translator, guide, tour operator also swelling in an incredible way, with the expansion of ecotourism. The transport
sector also developed through the ecotourism sector. In a word, it can be said that, the ecotourism sector impacted
a lot on the economy of a country. In a statistic by WTTC (2015), it is seen that, tourism contributes nearly BDT
296.6 bn. in the GDP in the year 2014 and will contribute BDT 566.3 bn. in the year 2025. Again, for direct
employment generation, nearly 1,984,000 jobs created in the tourism industry and estimated the job will be
increased by 2.1% in the year of 2025 ((WTTC), 2015).

SOCIAL IMPACTS
Social impact is the effect on people and communities that happens as a result of an action or inaction, an activity,
project, Programme or policy.
Social and cultural impacts of tourism are the ways in which tourism is contributing to changes in value systems,
individual behavior, family relationships, collective life styles, moral conduct, creative e expressions, traditional
ceremonies and community organization.
Social impact is about making sure that's as positive as it can be and reduces the negative impacts that the business
or project might have. For the supply chain, this is important because it's now counted into the value for bids –
social value has to be demonstrated in bids, and it's weighted within bids.

Social objectives

 Empowerment
 Participation
 Social mobility
 Social cohesion
 Cultural identity
 Institutional development

Increasing of ecotourism also makes a change in social status as well as social class. Inception of ecotourism and
sports tourism in the recent decades has also enormous social impacts on the society. Entrepreneurs, especially
women entrepreneurs in local areas are the prime beneficiaries by the increasing of ecotourism demand. With the
expansion of ecotourism, traditional clothing and foods, customized kits and stuffs are becoming popular. The local
peoples are getting extra pay with the increasing demand for ecotourism and the tendency of migration becoming
lessen, which contributes in the national economy as well.
Tourism can improve the quality of life in an area by increasing the number of attractions, recreational opportunities,
and services. Tourism offers resident’s opportunities to meet interesting people, make friendships, learn about the
world, and expose themselves to new perspectives. But on the same note accidents and mal practicing are increasing.
There are many social benefits of tourism, demonstrating positive social impacts. These might include; preserving
the local culture and heritage; strengthening communities; provision of social services; commercialization of culture
and art; revitalization of customs and art forms and the preservation of heritage.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
Ecotourism contributes directly on the natural inhabitants. With the expansion of the ecotourism sites, the natural
places are preserved, moreover wildlife, local heritage and natural beauty getting preserved. The visitors also fell
attraction for this natural sites. Although there exists many positive impacts for the ecotourism there exists some
negative aspects as well for the ecotourism development. In most of the cases, the job creation by the ecotourism is
seasonal and in the down season, the people engaged in this sector, look for another job. Again, the attitudes of the
tourists sometime hampers the native’s cultural emotion and the destruction of the nature by the tourists hampers
the natural imbalance.
Cohen E. demonstrated in his study that areas with high-value natural resources, like oceans, lakes, waterfalls,
mountains, unique flora and fauna, and great scenic beauty attract tourists and newly they captivate tourists creating
emotional and spiritual connections with nature. Tourist income often makes it possible to preserve and restore
historic buildings and monuments. However, Tourism can also degrade an environment. Visitors generate waste
and pollution (air, water, solid waste, noise, and visual). Natural resource attractions can be jeopardized through
improper uses or overuse. The destruction or loss of flora and fauna can happen when desirable plants and animals
are collected for sale or the land is trampled. Tourists or the businesses that cater to them often remove plants,
animals, rocks, fossils, coral, and cultural or historical artifacts from an area.

CULTURAL IMPACT
Experiencing different cultural practices enriches experiences, broadens horizons, and increases insight and
appreciation for different approaches to living .Often, dwindling interest in host cultures is revived by reawakening
cultural heritage as part of tourism development, which increases demand for historical and cultural exhibits.
Cultural impact was understood from the behavior and feelings of people regarding the intended change, with
indicators being cultural emotions and signals.
The negative cultural impacts include enclave tourism, racism, relocation of traditional communities, breaking up
of the traditional family structure, increase in crime, prostitution, the adoption of the Western safari style of dressing
and a traditionally unacceptable 'vulgar' language by young people.

CHARACTERISTICS OF ECO-TOURISM
Ecotourism is travel to fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas that strives to be low impact and (often) small
scale. It helps educate the traveler, provides funds for conservation, directly benefits the economic development
and political empowerment of local communities, and fosters respect for different cultures and for human rights.
Some important characteristics of ecotourism are following as:
1) Involves travel to the natural destination. These destinations are often remote areas, whether inhabited or
uninhabited, and are usually under some kind of environmental protection at the national, international, communal,
or private travel.
2) Minimize impact. Tourism causes damage. Ecotourism strives to minimize the adverse effects of hotels, trails,
and other infrastructure by using either recycled or plentifully available local building material, renewable sources
of energy, recycling and safe disposal of waste and garbage, and environmentally and culturally sensitive
architectural design.
3) Builds environmental awareness. Ecotourism means education, for both tourist and residents of nearby
communities. Well before the tour begins, tour operators should supply travelers with reading material about the
country, environment, and local people, as well as a code of conduct for both the traveler and the industry itself.
Ecotourism projects should also help educate members of surrounding communities, schoolchildren, and the
broader public in the host country.
4) Provides direct financial benefits for conservation. Ecotourism helps raise funds for environmental protection,
research, and education through a variety of mechanisms, including park entrance fees; Tour Company, hotel,
airline, and airport taxes. And voluntary contributions.
5) Provides financial benefits and empowerment for local people. Ecotourism holds that national parks and other
conservation areas will survive only if, there are happy people around the perimeters. The local community must
be involved with and receive income and other tangible benefits (potable water, roads, health clinics, etc.) from the
conservation area and its tourist facilities.
6) Respects local culture. Ecotourism is not only “greener” but also less culturally intrusive and exploitative than
conventional tourism. Whereas prostitution, black markets, and drug often are byproducts of mass tourism,
ecotourism strives to be culturally respectful and the human population of a host country.
7) Supports human rights and democratic movements. The United Nations-sponsored World Tourism Organization
proclaims that tourism contributes to “international understanding, peace, prosperity, and universal respect for and
observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all.
Such sentiments, however, are little reflected in conventional mass tourism. In this way, ecotourism supports
humans rights and, to establish international peace.

FUNCTIONS OF ECOTOURISM
Eco-tourism is nature-based, environmentally educated and sustainably managed. Ross and Wall (1999) outline
the five fundamental functions of ecotourism namely:
1. Protection of natural areas
2. Education
3. Generation of money
4. Quality tourism
5. Local participation

MAJOR ECOTOURISM DESTINATION OF BANGLADESH

I. SUNDARBAN: The Sundarban is the single largest chunk of productive mangrove forest in the world
and one of the most biologically productive of all natural ecosystems (UNESCO, 2017). The Sundarban
covers approximately 10,000 square kilometers. Forests, fisheries, wildlife and water comprise the
Sundarban‟s mangrove resources and the mysterious nature of this forest always attracts the nature
lover, scientists, researchers and tourists. The core areas of the Sundarban Reserve Forest (SRF)
considered as the World Heritage Site. UNESCO declared the Sundarban as a world heritage site in
1997. There are 13 tourist point in Sundarban itself. These are Karamjol, Hiron point, Katka, Nilkomol,
Harbaria, Smoronkhola, Tiger Point, Dobeki, Kodomtola, Notabeki, Haldibunia, Dublar Char, Akram
Point.

II. COX'S BAZAR: Cox’s Bazar has been considered as the world’s longest sea beach in the world.
Approximately, 120 km (75 mi) unbroken sandy sea beach comprises of a gentle slope. Although it is
not a major international tourist destination worldwide, but most visited tourist destinations in
Bangladesh today. The Government of Bangladesh formed a special unit of police called „tourist
police‟ to protect local and foreign visitors, as well as to look after the nature and wildlife in the tourist
 spots of Cox's Bazar in 2013. Tourist attractions in Cox‟s Bazar are Himchari National Park,
AggmedaKhyang, Ramu, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park, Inani Beach.

III. SAINT MARTIN ISLAND: The Saint Martin Island is a tiny and isolated island in the northeast part
of the Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh. The local name of the island is „NaricalGingira‟ meaning
„Coconut Island‟. There is also a small adjoining island that is disjointed at high wave, called
„CheraDwip‟. In recent decades, Saint Martin Island and Cheradwip has become a popular tourist
destination. Different natural resources, the charming attractiveness of Island and the warmth of the
local people appeal to the tourist. Stunning landscapes, clear sea water, Coral colony, unique and fresh
sea side environment and the roar of beautiful sea waves are the main attraction of thousands of visitors
both home and abroad.

IV. KUAKATASEA BEACH: Kuakata is a town popular for its stunning sea beach. It is the second
largest sea beach in Bangladesh. It is located in the south-eastern part of Bangladesh. Kuakata beach is
a sandy area of 18 kilometers long and 3 kilometers wide. Sunrise and sunset seen can be observed
without any obstacles over the Bay of Bengal.

V. MADHUPUR SAL FOREST: The Sal forests are deliberated as one of the richest ecosystems in
respect to forestry diversity in Bangladesh. Madhupur Sal forest is known as „MadhupurGarh‟. It is
situated in Madhupurthana under the district of Tangail. Madhupur Sal forest has 45,565.18 acres of
land. For the purpose of preserving the biodiversity, out of total area, 2525.14 acres of land declared as
reserved forest and the remaining 43039.04 acres of land are under the process to be declared as
reserved forest. Madhupur Sal Forest contain many sorts of plants, animal and tribal community which
is significant for constancy of environment and treasured part of the biological as well as cultural
diversity of Bangladesh.

VI. BANGHABANDUSAFARI PARK: Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park is the first Safari Park
of its kinds in Bangladesh. This safari park is atoting of an animal reservation situated along the
Chittagong-Cox's Bazar road about 50 km from the Cox's Bazar town. The natural atmospheres of the
forest is tropical evergreen and rich with Garjan, Boilam, Telsur and Chapalish woods. This park was
customary on the basis of South Asian model. The safari park itself shields a large number of wild
elephants which are inherent to the area. Other animal attractions include lions, Crocodiles, Bengal
tigers, Bears and lots of different types of birds and monkeys which is magnificent project to appeal to
the tourist.

VII. SITAKUNDOECO-PARK: Sitakundo eco-park is the first eco-park of its kind in Bangladesh with a
beautiful botanical garden inside. It was established in 2001 under a five-year (2000–2004)
development project on 1,997 acres of land in the Chandranath Hills in Sitakunda, Chittagong. The
eco-park was established to facilitate biodiversity conservation, natural rejuvenation, new plantations,
infrastructure development, furthermore to encourage nature-based tourism to spawn revenue.

VIII. KAPTAI: The whole kaptai area is a full of natural beauty. The main attractions of Kaptai are the
Kaptai National Park, KaptaiLake and the Hanging Bridge over Kaptai Lake. Kaptai National Park
waterfalls between the Karnaphuly and Kaptai Mountain assortments. Prior to announcement of the
national park it was Sitapahar Reserve. In this park, there are lots of old trees which were planted in
1873 and also there are various wildlife such as deer, jungle cat, elephant, monkey, etc. Kaptai National
Park is a safe and sanctuary for birds and other wildlife. In Kaptai area, there is a lake called „Kaptai
 Lake‟, which is a man-made lake. The lake was created as a result of building the Kaptai Dam on the
Karnaphuli River as part of the Karnaphuli Hydro-electric project. There is a hanging bridge over the
lake which is also an attractive spots for the tourists.

IX. SAJEKVALLY: Sajek is comparatively new tourist destination for ecotourism. Basically it is the name
of a river which separates Bangladesh from India. The main attraction of this place is natural beauty
and the tribal community. The major ethnic minorities are Chakma, Marma, Tripura, Pankua, Lushai
and Sagma. The place is known as „Hill Queen‟ for its natural beauty and roof of Rangamati. Sun set,
rain, morning, evening, night and spending time with the local natives are some of the most attractive
moments in Sajek Vally.

X. MADHABKUNDA ECO-PARK: A natural waterfall is the most eye-catching site of this Eco-park.
It is situated in Maulvibazar district under Sylhet division. Madhabkunda waterfall is one of the
stunning places which have a lot of ecological, regional and economic importance. Madhabkunda is
the biggest waterfall in Bangladesh, around 200 ft. (61 m) high. A special portion of Khasia tribe lives
in the forest villages of this area and involved in some agricultural activities in the forestland. People
of this tribal community by tradition grow betel vine, betel nut, cashew nut, pineapple, lemon etc. for
their livelihood.

XI. LAWACHARA NATIONAL PARK: Lawachara is one of the foremost natural reserve in
Bangladesh. In 1997 Bangladesh government affirmed it a National Park. This forest is erected by the
British, the time of their rule in Indian Subcontinent. Lawachara is the most attractive tropical forests
in Bangladesh. It is situated in Maulvibazar district under Sylhet division. The national park is famous
for the variety of trees and the wild animals‟ free movement.

XII. HAKALUKIHAOR: Hakalukihaor is one of the Bangladesh’s biggest and one of Asia‟s largest
wetland resource. It is the homegrown of numerous animals, fishes and birds and a huge variety of flora
and fauna. Fishes of 107 types were available in the haor, some tasty and nutritious fishes like Chela,
Dhela, Pabda, Lalchanda fish found here. Rare types of plants, animals, birds can be found here.

XIII. RATARGUL SWAMP FOREST: Ratargul Swamp Forest is the only swamp forest of its kinds,
located in Bangladesh and one of the few freshwater swamp forests in the world. Locally, the place is
also named as the Amazon of Bangladesh. The evergreen forest is located by the river Goain and linked
with the cannel ChengirKhal. The forest goes under 20- 30 feet water in the rainy season and in other
time of the year, the water level is around 10 feet deep. It‟s a decent source of different local fish‟s
inhabitant. It‟s the territory of different snakes, monkeys, lizards, insects and birds as well.

XIV. BISNAKANDI: Bisnakandi is one of the newest ecotourism destination in Bangladesh. It is situated
at Bangladesh India border in Sylhet. It is a landscape of beauty among greens and hills. Adding to its
charm are dark clouds taking on the mountain in the rainy season and flowing beneath towards
Bholaganj River which is a branch of the Piyain River. It is a natural place that truly attract the tourists
especially in rainy season.
PRINCIPLES AND GUIDELINES OF ECOTOURISM
Ecotourism attracts people who wish to interact with the environment and, in varying degrees, develop their
knowledge, awareness, and appreciation of it. The Ecotourism Society gives the principles and guidelines of
ecotourism. These are following as:
 Prepare travelers to minimize their negative impact while visiting sensitive environments and cultures
before departure.
 Prepare traveler for each encounter with local cultures and with native animals and plants.
 Minimize visitors impacts on the on the environment by offering literature, briefing, leading by example,
and taking corrective actions.
 Minimize traveler impact on cultures by offering literature, briefings, leading by example, and taking
corrective actions.
 Use adequate leadership, and maintain small enough groups to ensure minimum group impact on
destination. Avoid areas that are under-managed and over-visited.
 Ensure managers, staff and contract employees know and participate in all aspects of company policy to
prevent impacts on the environment and local cultures.
 Give managers, staff and contact employees access to programs that will upgrade their ability to
communicate with and manage clients in sensitive natural and cultural settings.
 Be a contributor to the conservation of the region being visited.
 Provide competitive, local employment in all aspect of business operation.
 Offer site-sensitive accommodations that are not wasteful of local resources or destructive to the
environment, which provide ample opportunity for learning about the environment and sensitive
interchange with local communities.
 Focuses on personally experiencing natural areas in ways that led to greater understanding and
appreciation.

GEO-ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE AND TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN COX’S

BAZAR
Bangladesh is located conveniently on the east-west air-corridor making it a gateway to the Far East. It is endowed
with vast resources and the potential for a highly developed and differentiated tourism industry. In the southeast the
country has a 120 km long beach of soft silvery sand, reputed to be the world's longest, in a Riviera-like setting
with crescent-shaped low hills overlooking the Bay of Bengal. While discussing the panoramic view of Cox’s Bazar,
we must not ignore its geo-economic importance given its strategic location between the Chittagong Hill Districts,
its vast border with Myanmar, an attractive port gateway to the eastern provinces of India and southern provinces
of China. The Asian highway that would bridge Bangladesh with the Southern Chinese city of Kunming through
Myanmar starts from Cox’s Bazar doubtlessly adding further strategic and financial importance. The proposed deep
seaport in Cox’s Bazar and expansion of the international airport draw a future blueprint of a communications hub
placing Cox’s Bazar directly in the center of the circle.
Cox’s bazar located in the southern-most district of ‘Bangladesh. Primary data gathered from field level studies and
statistics shows that combined and architecturally coherent town planning can change economic and social
sustainability in this beach location. The data includes an entire catalogue of factors: a government master plan;
local town planning; foreign investments; the census and ratio of the local population to tourists. It further includes
the total number of hotels and built structures; sea views and fisheries research; the access of local people to tourism
resources; road planning, land and sea communication safety besides a disaster management policy. Last not least
it covers the ratio of local to overseas tourists, plus the government’s policy paper for eco-tourism and interviews
from a cross-section of people linked with the tourism sector in cox’s bazar. This chapter’s investigations encompass
the research methods, field techniques, data analysis and the conclusions arrived at.
The ranges of the hills clad in lush green thickets are treasured locations for tourists. At the head of this terrain is
Cox’s Bazar which is as romantic as its name may appear to the outside world. It is also known by the name
“Panowa”, the literal translation of which is “yellow flower”. Its other former name was “Palongkee”. The modern
Cox’s Bazar derives its name from Captain Cox (died 1798), an army officer serving in the then British Indian
army. Cox's Bazar town is a small port and health resort. The municipality covers an area of 6.85 sq. km with 27
mahallas and nine wards and has a population of 51,918. Located at a distance of 152 km. south of Chittagong,
Bangladesh’s second biggest city and largest port town, Cox’s Bazar is connected both by air and road with Dhaka
(the capital of Bangladesh) and Chittagong. Traditionally Cox’s Bazar is regarded as being a conservative society
and the socio-cultural and economic statistics including the literacy rate reveal that it ranges far below the national
average.

Miles of golden sands, tall cliffs, waves suitable for surfing, rare conch shells, colourful pagodas, Buddhist temples
and tribes, delightful sea-food - all these make Cox’s Bazar what it is today, the tourist capital of Bangladesh. The
world's longest unbroken beach, still unspoiled, slopes gently down to the blue waters of the Bay of Bengal against
the picturesque background of a chain of green hills. It stretches from the mouth of the Bakkhali River going all the
way to Teknaf welcoming tourists for sun-bathing and swimming. It is the main attraction of Cox’s Bazar. The
breathtaking beauty of the sun setting behind the waves of the sea is captivating. Handmade cigars and the unique
handicrafts produced by the (Burmese) Rakhayne tribal families are good buys.
The main attractions around Cox’s Bazar include: Aggmeda Khyang, a Buddhist monastery located in the hills,
Himchari picnic spot situated just eight kms from Cox’s Bazar, Innani Beach, 32 kms away from the town, Sonadia
island with very little human visitation, Teknaf peninsula, some 80 kms from town, and picturesque St. Martin
Island to the south at 13 kms distance from the mainland. A total of 52 species of birds have been spotted in Cox’s
Bazar according to a census of aquatic birds (The Daily Star, February 2, 2009). All these places are easily accessible
from Cox’s Bazar by bus, jeep and water. As a result, Cox’s Bazar has become a hub of tourism. Tourism in
Bangladesh is managed by Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC) under the Ministry of Civil Aviation and
Tourism. The economic contribution of tourism and the share of Cox’s Bazar to the national economy have not so
far been studied with any statistical reliability. Very recently the World Travel and Tourism Council’s Bangladesh
Country Report 2010 (www.wttc.org) had forecast that the contribution of Travel and Tourism (TT) to the Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) was expected to rise from 3.9% (BDT265.9bn or US$3,786.4mn) in 2010 and to 4.1%
(BDT788.4bn or US$8,781.7mn) by 2020. The Real GDP growth for the Travel and Tourism Economy (TTE) was
expected to be 1.7% in 2010 and to average 6.4% per annum over the coming 10 years. The contribution of the TTE
to employment was expected to rise from 3.1% of total employment, 2,373,000 jobs, or one in every 32.3 jobs in
2010, to 3.2% of total employment, 3,114,000 jobs, or one in every 31.1 jobs by 2020. Export earnings from
international visitors were expected to generate .5% of total exports (BDT 6.0bn or US$ 85.8mn) in 2010, growing
(in nominal terms) to BDT 20.5bn or US $228.5mn (.5% of total) in 2020. The Travel and Tourism investment was
estimated at BDT64.0bn, US$911.9mn or 3.7% of the total investment in 2010. By 2020, this should reach
BDT190.7bn, US$2,124.5mn or 3.8% of the total investment.
Nearly two million people visit Cox’s Bazar in the peak season from November to March (The Daily Star, 30 Sep
2009). Visitors are mainly Bangladeshi nationals and originate from all parts of Bangladesh. The basic intent of
visitors includes walking along the beach, ‘sea bathing’ and shopping from the Rakhaine stalls. The beaches of
Shoibal, Labonee, Shugondha, Himchari and Innani are particularly heavily visited. Labonee beach is reportedly
one of the most heavily visited tourist destinations in the country with daily maximum visitor numbers as high as
30,000. The area from Labonee to Kalatali beach has many hotels, motels, cottages, rest- and guest houses and
restaurants, around 300 in number, developed by both private and government sectors for tourists. Some thousands
of local and non-local Bangladeshi nationals are working in the tourism sector of Cox’s Bazar, a force which has
been gradually changing the idyllic rural setting of Cox’s Bazar. The chart below shows the annual increase in
tourist population in Cox’s Bazar and % growth.
International tourism receipts are expenditures by international inbound visitors, including payments to national
carriers for international transport. These receipts include any other prepayment made for goods or services received
in the destination country. They also may include receipts from same-day visitors, except when these are important
enough to justify separate classification. For some countries they do not include receipts for passenger transport
items. Data are in current U.S. dollars.
 Bangladesh tourism statistics for 2018 was 357,000,000.00, a 2.59% increase from 2017.
 Bangladesh tourism statistics for 2017 was 348,000,000.00, a 62.39% increase from 2016.
 Bangladesh tourism statistics for 2016 was 214,300,000.00, a 42.58% increase from 2015.
 Bangladesh tourism statistics for 2015 was 150,300,000.00, a 2.4% decline from 2014.
Bangladesh Tourism Statistics - Historical Data

Year Spending ($) % of Exports

2018 357,000,000.00 0.81

2017 348,000,000.00 0.89

2016 214,300,000.00 0.57

2015 150,300,000.00 0.43

2014 154,000,000.00 0.47

2013 131,000,000.00 0.41

2012 105,000,000.00 0.38

2011 97,000,000.00 0.36

2010 103,000,000.00 0.48

2009 77,000,000.00 0.45

Bangladesh Tourism Statistics - Historical Data

Year Spending ($) % of Exports

2008 75,000,000.00 0.43

2007 76,000,000.00 0.54

2006 79,000,000.00 0.61

2005 82,000,000.00 0.78

2004 76,000,000.00 0.83

2003 59,000,000.00 0.74

2002 59,000,000.00 0.86

2001 48,000,000.00 0.70

2000 50,000,000.00 0.69

1999 50,000,000.00 0.80

 Bangladesh Tourism Statistics - Historical Data

Year Spending ($) % of Exports

1998 52,000,000.00 0.89

1997 62,000,000.00 1.12

1996 33,000,000.00 0.72

1995 25,000,000.00 0.56

SUSTAINABILITY, SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AND ITS IMPACT

SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainability studies from a broader perspective entail a comparative and interdisciplinary understanding in
general but also require a more specific conceptual focus on a particular field like sustainable tourism or
architecture. In our case, the core concept of sustainable tourism is a part of a broader study of sustainable
development.
In general, the word ‘sustainability’ is derived from the Latin sustinere. Dictionaries provide several meanings for
sustain, wherein “maintain", "support", or "endure” are the main ones. The word sustainability was coined in 1987
by the Bruntland Commission, a group assigned to create an agenda for global change set up by the General
Assembly of the United Nations. It defined ‘sustainable development’ as one ‘that meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’ (WCDE, 1987). It addresses the
need to promote harmony between humans and nature by managing development without destroying the possibility
of a good life for future generations.
While making philosophical sense of the words it is still difficult to translate them into practice, especially in
architecture and design. What is meant by ‘sustainable development’ in this context is that we must ‘sustain’ nature
and integrate it more harmoniously into our everyday lives and environments through better design and
management of the environment. However, there is no doubt that a perception of sustainable architecture reflects
a new awareness in society generated by growing environmental concerns. As Papanek states: ‘ecology and the
environmental equilibrium are the basic underpinnings of all human life on earth and design must be the bridge
between human needs, culture and ecology’.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
‘Environmental sustainability is related to the capacity of the natural and built environment to handle tourism
without damage’ (McVey, 1993).
It is now history that development in general and over-development in particular has destroyed the environmental
balance in almost in all corners of the world for the last one hundred years, especially since the dramatic increase
of deforestation due to the use of wood to fuel brick fields and in construction industries. The environmental
preference was either sacrificed or set aside to achieve the instant target of development. Therefore it is perhaps no
surprise that the earth has, according to some people, started ‘taking revenge’ and overdevelopment fired back. An
example of this is possibility is the recent earthquake in the popular tourist haven, the Greek islands, which have
been accused of over-development in the last two decades with unplanned construction believed to have been the
perpetrator. Suzuki (1993, p.146) validly points out that the problem of sustainable development is linked to the
fact that we cannot relate on a personal level to the vastness of the environmental problems facing us now and
awaiting us in the future. The present research aims to investigate how the absence of architectural planning or
unplanned beach installations further contributes to environmental degradation in selected tourism destinations.
More positively, the study shows environmental sustainability can be achieved through more eco-friendly planning
of installations in tourism hubs like Cox’s Bazar.

ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY
As understood by McVey (1993) in his three core principles analysis: ‘Economic sustainability refers to
maintaining growth rates at manageable levels; promoting tourism while keeping an eye on capacities to handle
greater demand in order to avoid consumer dissatisfaction.’ While economic sustainability is considered a pre-
condition to achieve social and development sustainability in general and particularly in tourism destinations, it
has been seen that tourism sustainability has also been crucial to achieve economic and social sustainability.
According to Alessi (2009, p.7) economic values are given high priority by governments, industry and the general
population due to the importance attached to economic development in modern times. Where Roger and Feiss
advocate the need for an economic revolution and call for a changes in social priorities, they see sustainability as
an approach to development that emphasises technological rather than economic concerns (Roger and Feiss, 1998,
p.203). However, Agenda 21, the action plan of the United Nations Conference on Environmental and
Development, concluded that as economic growth increases, both production and the incidence of ‘environmental
rape’ (Aloisi de Landerel, 1997, p48) also increase (cited by Alessi, 2009, p.7).
SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY
Social sustainability refers to the ability of a society to ensure the well-being of its people, and to do so in a fair,
equitable way (Yeaken, 2000). It depends not only on the qualities of the physical world, that is the environment,
in its natural and built forms, but also on the public need to accept their role in changing the current unsustainable
trends (Alessi, 2009).
In general understanding, the social sustainability concept requires social integrity and belonging, a sense of social
community irrespective of class, gender, profession and time that ensures equitable and justifiable distribution of
social resources for its members both present and future. But it would be wrong to think social sustainability only
depends on distribution of resources; rather, it is increasingly a question of both resources and motivation, coupled
with strong bonds among the members of any specific social community.
As demonstrated by McVey (1993) in his three core principles analysis: ‘Social sustainability refers to society's
ability to absorb increasing tourist arrivals without adversely affecting or damaging indigenous culture.

Definitions of sustainability often refer to the "three pillars" of social, environmental and economic
sustainability
A representation of sustainability showing how both economy and society are constrained by
environmental limits

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM: DEFINITION AND PRINCIPLES

Our biggest challenge in this new century is to take an idea that seems abstract - sustainable development - and
turn it into a reality for all the world’s people.
In general, sustainable tourism is an industry committed to making a low impact on the environment and local
culture, while helping to generate income and employment for local people. The aim of sustainable tourism is to
ensure that development is a positive experience for local people, tourism companies, and tourists themselves. Its
objective is to retain the economic and social advantages of tourism development while reducing any undesirable
impacts on the natural, historic, cultural or social environment. This can be achieved by balancing the needs of
tourists with those of the destination.
According to Alessi (2009, pp.1-2) the notion of sustainability has become fundamental to the international
discourse on tourism and has emphasized a particular type termed sustainable tourism. According to Choi and
Sirakaya (2005), sustainable tourism is defined as an alternative form of tourism that improves the quality of life
of the host community while providing a high quality experience for the visitors and maintaining the quality of the
environment on which both the host community and the visitors depend. According to Agenda 21 for the Travel
and Tourism Industry: ‘Sustainable tourism can be defined as the tourism that meets the needs of present tourists
and host regions while protecting and enhancing opportunities for the future.’ Tourism Canada (1990) has
postulated the following more elaborated definition of sustainable tourism development: ‘Tourism development
that leads to management of all resources in such a way that economic, social and aesthetic needs can be fulfilled,
while maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, biological diversity and life support systems.’
The Quebec Summit (The world eco-tourism summit, in Quebec, Canada, in May 2002) produced a statement
about the objective of ecotourism embracing the principles of sustainable tourism presenting the following specific
principles which distinguish it from a wider definition of the concept of sustainable tourism as it:
• Includes local indigenous communities in its planning, development and operation, and contributing to their well-
being;
• Interprets the natural and cultural heritage of the destination to visitors;
• Lends itself better to independent travelers, as well as organized tours, for small-size groups.

PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABLE COASTAL TOURISM

According to the World Conference on Sustainable Tourism, meeting in Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain, on 27-
28 April 1995, coastal tourism development should:

• Be ecologically bearable in the long term, as well as economically viable, and ethically and socially equitable
for local communities;
• Be integrated with the natural, cultural and human environment; it must respect the fragile balances that
characterize many tourist destinations along the coast;
• Consider its effects on the cultural heritage and traditional elements, activities and dynamics of each local
community;
• Encourage the participation of all actors, both public and private, and should be based on efficient co-operation
mechanisms at all levels: local, national, regional and international;
• Support quality criteria both for the preservation of the tourist destination and for the capacity to satisfy tourists;
• Be fully integrated into and contribute positively to local economic development and serve effectively to
improve the quality of life of all people;
• Promote measures that permit a more equitable distribution of the benefits and burdens;
• Encourage the adoption and implementation of codes of conduct conducive to sustainability by the principle
actors involved in tourism, particularly industry.
IMPACTS OF TOURISM
Gonsalves (1999) said the impact of international tourism in the Third World (developing countries) is different
from that in the developed world due chiefly to differences in economic level, cultural patterns, legal systems and
public awareness. The impacts of tourism on any destination will be determined by an extensive diversity of factors
(Cooper 1997, p.94):
• The volume of tourist arrivals
• The structure of the host economy
• The types of tourism activity 21
• The fragility of the local environment.

The inherent structure and characteristics of the communities the tourists visit will play a major role in influencing
the types of tourism impacts that occur (Richards and Hall, 2000). Local culture beliefs and traditions, uses of the
environment and infrastructure can all influence the type and quantity of tourism in a community and also govern
local reactions to tourism, how tourism develops and impacts the community. The natural environments within
which communities and tourists interact are important factors that influence tourism impacts. Tourism that occurs
in coastal environments differs from land based environments in terms of anthropogenic uses, property values and
vulnerabilities (Diedrich, 2008) While assessing the potential for coastal tourism development, it is important to
identify and understand the potential impacts such development can have on the human and natural resources of
the coastal area. The development of coastal tourism can have immeasurable impacts on the coastal region, and
can, in turn, be impacted by non-tourism-related activities. These impacts can be positive, such as job creation for
local people, or negative, such as coastal degradation due to unplanned development of coastal hotels (Hall, C.
Michael & Lew, Alan, A., eds., 1998). The impacts of coastal tourism can best be analyzed by looking at the
following dimensions of sustainability:

DIMENSIONS OF THE IMPACTS OF TOURISM

TOURISM AND ITS ECONOMIC IMPACTS
The economic impacts of coastal tourism include both positive and negative aspects in terms of the local and
national economy. At the local level, the construction and operation of hotels and other accommodation can provide
direct employment opportunities. The presence of tourists can lead to the emergence of numerous types of
supporting services and businesses such as restaurants, tour agencies, etc., many of which can be developed and
managed by the local population. These linkages to other ancillary or supporting services can serve as a multiplier
effect throughout the local economy. Coastal tourist activities can provide revenue to local government authorities
through taxation and other revenue bearing activities. At the national level, the development of coastal tourism can
provide much-needed foreign exchange and tax revenue, contributing to the growth of the national economy.
Another potentially adverse impact of coastal tourism on the local economy is the potential increase in local prices
for certain items, such as land, foodstuffs and other necessities. Areas with tourism potential may be targeted by
speculators or developers, whose competition for finite resources can drive prices higher and higher, until only
foreign investors are able to afford land. Tourist demand for local agricultural products could cause prices to
increase so much that local people are unable to meet their basic needs. The positive and negative economic impact
of tourism on the host community, whereas various factors that help govern tourism’s economic impact.
ECONOMIC IMPACTS
 FACTORS GOVERNING TOURISM’S ECONOMIC IMPACTS

TOURISM AND ITS PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

Environment is a key issue in tourism development and the quality of the environment, both natural and man-made,
is essential to tourism. However, tourism's relationship with the environment is complex - many activities can have
adverse environmental effects. Many of these impacts are linked with the construction of the general infrastructure
such as roads and airports, and of tourism facilities including resorts, hotels, restaurants, shops, golf courses and
marinas. The negative impacts of tourism development can gradually destroy the environmental resources on which
it depends. Coastal tourism can also have positive impacts on the environment. Employment and other tourism-
related revenues can serve as alternatives for destructive, unsustainable resource use. Revenues from tourism can
also be used to finance the conservation of specific resources such as mangrove reserves and marine parks. The
development and implementation of mechanisms that return some of the revenues generated from tourist activities
to the conservation and protection of the natural resources on which tourism is based are a major step forward in
developing a healthy and sustainable industry.
Tourism has the potential to create beneficial effects on the environment by contributing to environmental
protection and conservation. It is a way to raise awareness of environmental values and it can serve as a tool to
finance protection of natural areas and increase their economic importance. Negative impacts from tourism occur
when the level of visitors’ use is greater than the environment's ability to cope with this use within the acceptable
limits of change. For example, tourist hotels often consume large amounts of fresh water in maintaining their
grounds, filling swimming pools, cleaning rooms and washing linen, not to mention the daily consumption by
guests. If freshwater resources are limited, tourist activities can come into conflict with other users, such as farmers
and households.
Uncontrolled conventional tourism poses potential threats to many natural areas around the world. It can put
enormous pressure on an area and lead to impacts such as: soil erosion, increased pollution, discharges into the sea,
natural habitat loss, increased pressure on endangered species and heightened vulnerability to forest fires. It often
puts a strain on water resources, and it can force local populations to compete for the use of critical resources.
Critical ecosystems, such as mangroves, estuaries and reefs can be damaged by coastal tourism activities if not
managed properly.

PHYSICAL IMPACTS OF TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

According to Girard, the process of urban regeneration often attached to the development of tourism is one of the
important positive physical impacts brought by the presence of tourism. Tourism can lead to an increased protection
of urban landscapes, a better maintenance and presentation of public spaces, and the creation of new infrastructures
to service tourists, which would at the same time benefit residents. But an excessive development of a tourist
presence might bear the risk of transforming cities’ urban heritage into mono-functional spaces, threatening the
long-term conservation of this heritage. This has been happening in different parts of the world: where public
spaces have been reorganized according to tourists’ demands, some places of interest have been destroyed or
damaged because of heavy tourist flows and the related pollution. This represents a major loss of authenticity of
some locations, which become degraded to stages of tourists’ entertainment and have thus lost touch with the
human capital of the place itself.

SOCIAL AND CULTURAL IMPACT

The social impacts of coastal tourism are quite difficult to measure but are often fairly negative. On the positive
side, tourism can promote intercultural understanding between host and visitor. Tourists are often perceived as
wealthy by young people, who then try to emulate their lifestyles without realizing the fact that most tourists work
hard most of year in order to afford to take a holiday. Tourists are also seen as a source of easy money, which may
lead some people to try and take advantage of them in order to make some quick cash. Conversely, tourists are
often not aware of local values and customs, which can lead to conflicts between host and visitor. Any negative
social impacts can be mitigated in part by educating both local people and visitors about their respective cultures.
Ensuring local participation in the planning and benefits of tourist activities can help to alleviate potential problems.
The impacts of coastal tourism on cultural heritage are also important. The development and promotion of cultural
heritage attractions can lead to the further protection of those attractions through self-sustaining financing
mechanisms. The process of identifying potential heritage attractions can lead to a better understanding within the
local community of their unique history and culture. Demonstrations of local lifestyles and practices are often of
interest to visitors and can provide income directly to local families. As with natural resources, cultural heritage
sites and village attractions can be adversely affected if attention is not paid to the capacity for these sites and
people to handle potentially large numbers of tourists. On the whole, there is no doubt that the conservation and
promotion of cultural heritage can make a destination more attractive to visitors. However, cultural sites and
traditions need to be carefully managed to ensure that their values are not eroded in the process of becoming tourist
attractions.

SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM

PRINCIPLES AND DESIGN

According to Edwards (2005), “Designing sustainably is also about creating spaces that are healthy, economically
viable and sensitive to social needs. It is concerned with respecting natural systems and learning from ecological
process.” He describes ‘sustainability’ as a complex word for architects as designing sustainably is a technique to
make balance between capital cost and long-term asset value. In general, Sustainable architecture describes
environmentally-conscious design techniques in the field of architecture which seeks to minimize the negative
environmental impact of buildings by enhancing efficiency and moderation in the use of materials, energy, and
development space. The idea of sustainability is to ensure that our actions and decisions today do not restrain the
opportunities of future generations. Architecture has become the target of specific strategies as building industry
consumes one sixth of the world’s fresh water supply, one-quarter of its wood harvest, and two-fifth of its fossil
fuels and manufactured materials (Wines, 2000). Sir Norman Foster suggested in a talk at the conference for solar
energy in Architecture in 1993 in Florence, architecture’s relationship to sustainability is seen as inevitable and
‘not about fashion but about survival. Foster also announced a series of principles with the aim of redefining
architecture and urban planning for the future. Those principles refer to the need of our species and society to
maintain a sustainable relationship with the earth and with architecture in a way that harmonizes with natural
cycles, rhythms and resources. In Foster’s opinion this aim can be met by architects as they have the knowledge
and skills to create coherence between climate, resources and place in ways in which ‘maximum benefit could be
obtained by minimum resources.

ESD PRINCIPLES FOR SUSTAINABLE DESIGN

ESD or Ecological Sustainable development took place in design process as in the last few years all over the world
there has been a tendency to consider environmental and ecological issues within design and architecture. Though
there is a certain amount of consensus between business interests, governments and environmentalists about the
need for sustainable development conflicts arise about the adequate understanding and application of Ecological
sustainable development (ESD) and principles for assessing such development (Alessi, 2009). Acceptable amount
of environmental impacts and how much resource depletion should be accepted needs to be addressed. Policies
have been formulated by different organizations around the world in order to help with the process of understanding
the degree of acceptable environmental impact. The United Nations lists five principles of sustainable architecture.
• Healthful Interior Environment’ considers that materials and building systems into the interior atmosphere do
not emit toxic substances and gasses;
• Resource Efficiency’ considers that the minimal use of a building's energy and other resources is minimal.
(Cooling, heating and lighting systems, water use and the production of wastewater);
• Ecologically Benign Materials’ is directed to building materials and products that minimize the destruction of
the global environment.
• Environmental Form’ calls for a building plan to be in harmony with the landscape;
• Good Design’ promotes an ‘efficient, long-lasting and elegant relationship of use areas, circulation, building
forms, mechanical systems and construction technology’.

The sustainable building category, established in 1989, relates to assessment criteria for ecologically sustainable
development (ESD). These criteria have been summarized in the following six categories (Alessi, 2009):
• Site - minimizing the impact on the site while using passive solar design to orientate the building towards the
sun and natural light.
• Energy - the use of renewable energy sources, particularly in relation to heating, cooling and lighting.
• Materials - selection and use and reuse of non-toxic materials, taking into account life cycle and embodied
energy factors.
• Water - on site retention and collection of water, treatment of effluents for reuse and efficient appliances for
its conservation.
• Waste - minimizing the amount of waste during construction and strategies for recycling.
• Social issues - promoting connections with local communities and considering users.

PRINCIPLES FOR URBAN SUSTAINABILITY

According to (Mcgeough, et al. 2004) five guiding principles for sustainable urban design emerge from both the
recent international symposium and literatures on the subject are as follows:
• Sustainable Energy Resources and Practices, maximizes the efficient utilization of energy resources and
minimizes or eliminates local and global environmental degradation. Due to the reduction of CO2 and other
 greenhouse gas emissions, future development and use of energy resources in our cities should also consider
direct and indirect impacts on the environment, habitat and biodiversity.
• Ecological Urban Form and Function’ should be designed and developed to emulate nature and to maximize
the benefit of natural systems such as wind and water flows, sunshine, precipitation, and the absorbency of
land and vegetation. Further, urban functions should be managed to reinforce these natural flows and
characteristics wherever possible, thereby creating a balanced and mutually supportive cycle of interaction
between the built and the natural environments.
• Community-Based Recourses Management’ encourages the development of design elements that engage
individual neighborhood communities and their residents in as many aspects of natural and human recourses
management as possible. With community-based resource management, each community regardless of size
bears responsibility for the efficiency of its practices and has the opportunity to better understand the
interrelatedness of water, energy and waste disposal services.
• Land Use Optimization restructuring and more efficiently utilizing the existing urban developed areas, all
cities, regardless of size, can minimize the utilization of natural and human resources. This can create
opportunities for increased social and economic interaction and diversity within each communities which will
dramatically reduce energy consumption, degradation of local ambient air quality, and the emission of
greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.
• Social and Economic Equity’ offers equivalent access for all residents to affordable housing, social services,
and employment and economic development opportunities. Without this social element, efforts to ensure the
efficiency of energy resource use and minimize adverse environmental impacts will ultimately be insufficient
to assure that the community will sustain itself and prosper.

DESIGN CONCEPT
Taken together, these five principles suggest a unified design concept for urban sustainability. The concept would
direct all future urban growth away from ecologically sensitive terrestrial, coastal, and marine areas and toward
previously developed areas in ways that reinforce urban vitality and support the expansion of urban mass transit
and its use. Additionally, the concept entails the development of sustainable villages or neighborhood settlements
within urban areas. These sustainable villages provide a balance of affordable housing options, employment and
economic development opportunities, and access to shopping, education, recreation, and cultural amenities.

DESIGN ELEMENTS
According to Mcgeough there are seven highly interdependent elements of any sustainable urban design. Each
corresponds to one of the seven basic systems that support all urban functions. These are:
• Natural systems;
• Land use systems;
• Mobility systems;
• Energy systems;
• Environmental management systems;
• Building design systems; and
• Governance systems.
The following text discusses each of these systems and their interrelationships and provides a range of tactical
measures that can be taken to maximize their individual contributions toward urban sustainability.

NATURAL SYSTEMS
Sustainable design should emphasize in reducing impacts or environment. Subsystems must be examined in order
to understand the natural context of urban development. The following four natural subsystems that must be
examined in order to understand the natural context for urban development.

LAND
Carrying capacity of land and its suitability for development is the first consideration in the urban design process.
This capacity and suitability will depend on topography, geology, soil composition and permeability; and on their
interactions with water elements in the natural landscape.

WATER
All sustainable urban development must be designed to accommodate the natural characteristics of indigenous
water elements. The essential components include all surface waters and watercourses, groundwater in
underground aquifers, floodplains, and wetlands. Given the composition and topography of land, all waters have a
natural direction of flow, velocity, circulation, and carrying capacity. Water quality is directly affected by all of
these factors, as are the lives of all human, animal, and plant communities.

CLIMATE
Macro-climate considerations such as annual average cloud cover/sunshine; ambient air temperatures; precipitation
and air flows have a significant effect on the habitability of any natural area. Sustainable design will help to mitigate
the impact of climate extremes on the built environment while it connects natural forces to reduce energy
consumption.

HABITAT
Urban development patterns and practices directly affect habitat and the natural web of life through the direct or
inadvertent manipulation of land, water, and air resources. As these conditions are maintained, diverse animal and
plant life flourishes as natural habitats, plants and animals rely on the unimpeded flow and interaction between
these three subsystems for food, shelter, and protection.

LAND USE SYSTEMS

The second element in urban design is the designation of various land uses within existing or proposed areas of
development. Land use planning has significant effect on the use of material and energy resources in the entire
sustainable design process. The objective of a sustainable land use planning is to establish a pattern of ecologically
sound and mutually compatible urban land uses that make maximum use of established infrastructure and the flow
of natural elements.

MOBILITY SYSTEMS
For a sustainable form to take shape and thrive there must be a fundamental restructuring of the present patterns of
urban mobility. For example, heavy dependency on private automobiles has led to unsustainable urban growth.
The unified design concept outlined in this thesis calls for discouraging automobile-dependent urban development.
Further, it calls for expanding non-motorized local mobility options and public transportation systems that utilize
alternative fuels, vehicles, and fuelling infrastructures.

ENERGY SYSTEMS
Presently, most electrical energy that reaches our cities is generated at central power plants, often located hundreds
of miles away. While this arrangement does not directly emit air pollution into urban air-sheds, emissions from
central power plants are still being released into the atmosphere and spent cooling water is being released into the
aquatic environment.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
Urban solid waste, water, and air pollution control technologies provide for the essential protection of the natural
systems upon which all life in a metropolitan region depends. The effective management of solid wastes and
municipal wastewater treatment are among the most important, as they can also reduce air emissions and produce
energy as well.

BUILDING DESIGN SYSTEMS

A more sustainable approach to urban design at the building scale entails, first and foremost, the optimal siting of
structures for use of solar energy and for air-flow efficiency. Reduction of material and energy consumption is
central issue to sustainable urban development. To create a more sustainable community building designs and
construction practices should use less material and energy. The use of plant resins and fibres, along with recyclable
materials, for solid and fabric surfaces and coverings also make sustainability sense. In general, the use of fully
recyclable materials should be sought in as many building applications as is practical.
GOVERNANCE SYSTEMS
Govern system is also main concern to create sustainable urban community. Govern system associates to create
policy, and regulatory dimensions of the sustainable urban design effort. Without strong public leadership, an open
and fully participatory process, and a systematic approach to defining, designing and developing a more sustainable
urban form, sustainability will not materialize.

ARCHITECTURAL REASONING IN SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

The subject of sustainable design has gained increasing importance in the tourism industry and architectural
organizations have found ways of involvement in the sector by participating in conferences and awarding of prizes.
Metha et al (2000) maintains that there are ten principles for tourism facility which can make the facility considered
an example of best practice. The entire ten principles as outlined by Metha et al (2002) includes that any tourist
destination and facilities should:

 Help in the conservation of the surrounding flora and fauna.

 Endeavour to work together with the local community.
 Offer interpretative programmes to educate both its employees and tourists about the surrounding natural
and cultural environments.
 Use alternative, sustainable means of water acquisition and reduce water consumption.
 Provide for careful handling and disposal of solid waste and sewage.
 Meet its energy needs through passive design and renewable energy sources.
 Use traditional building technology and material whenever possible and combine these with their modern
counterparts for greater sustainability.
 Have minimal impact on the natural surroundings during construction.
 Fit into specific physical and natural contexts through careful attention to form, landscaping and color, as
well as the use of vernacular architecture.
 Contribute to sustainable local community development through education programmes and research.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES

 Taking a holistic view Tourism development planning should be an integral part of conservation or
sustainable development strategy for the region, province or the nation
 Pursuing multi stakeholders engagement Tourism planning, development operation should be cross
sectorial integrated, involving all stakeholders
 Respecting limits all stakeholders should respects the culture environment of the host area, the economy
and the community life traditional behavior
 Planning for the long term Tourism should be planned and managed in a sustainable manner for the
protection and economic use of the natural human environment in host area
 Equitable sharing of benefits Tourism should be undertaken with equity in mind to distribute benefits cost
fairly among tourism promoters and host people areas.
 Local control Leadership Local people should be encouraged to undertake leadership roles in planning
development with the assistance of government business financial and other.
  Good information, research communication on the nature of tourism its effects on human and cultural
environment.
 Integrated environment, social economic planning analyses should be undertaken prior to commencement
of any major project.
 Cultural assessment, monitoring evaluation through the stages of the tourism development to take
advantage of the opportunities to respond to change

The planning and development of Cox’s Bazar has not been sufficiently systematic, having culminated in
its environmental decline. Voluntary measures by private developers and individuals are therefore
necessary to change this pattern, thus preserving the scenic and natural attractions of the coastal zone.
Tourism developers should consider this in planning to develop the coastal zone. With better planning and
integration in the community, the overall socio-economic benefits from natural resources will undoubtedly
increase and last much longer. These recommendations could include all aspects of development which
may have an impact on the environment, whether negatively or positively. Topics covered include siting,
setbacks and landscaping, besides infrastructural needs such as water supply, sewage, waste water, and
solid waste disposal.

DEVELOP A LAND USE PLAN OR ZONING SCHEME FOR THE

COASTAL AREA OF COX’S BAZAR
A Land Use Plan for a coastal area is essentially crucial and should be prepared through participatory land
use planning where the local community and other stakeholders are fully involved in the planning process.
This plan would include detailed maps that identify land that has been set aside for tourism development.
In addition, it would also provide specific guidance as to what types of structures and infrastructure would
be appropriate to that specific area. As this plan would have been developed through extensive local
consultation, the potential investor would encounter little, if any, resistance from government or local
communities to securing sites for hotel development and conflicts would thereby also be minimized. This
plan is flexible enough to allow for different ideas to be taken into account in order to accommodate any
concerns or needs of individual developers.
Where a formal Land Use Plan, with detailed maps, is not available, the potential investor and local
authorities should assist the villagers or local communities in developing a simple Land Use Plan. This
could be done through discussions about the potential sites with the local population. Residents of coastal
areas may have local knowledge about the ecological process governing a particular site and can thus
provide valuable information to potential investors. Local authorities should be able to direct potential
investors to other relevant studies conducted in the area. Local residents would also inform the investor
about the cultural or social significance of the site, such as presence of cemeteries, temples, or other sacred
or historical artefacts. Through this process of consultation, the local communities would become informed
about the proposed development and could raise any questions or concerns about how it might impact their
lives. Obtaining local acceptance of the proposed site is invaluable, as it can greatly minimize the chance
of any future user conflicts.

Before making a final decision on a site the following factors need to be considered:
• Views and opinions of local communities
• Geological considerations (slope of hills, soil composition, etc.)
• Sensitive ecosystems (identified by the Town and Country Planning Ordinance), among others the following
as ecological fragile lands suitable for conservation: beaches, mangrove swamps, flood plains, onshore and
offshore outcrops of coral reefs, estuaries, coastal mudflats, wetlands, deltas, marshlands, swamps, lagoons,
streams, rivers, river valleys and banks, and steep slopes
• Degree to which landscape would need to be altered
• Proximity to basic infrastructure services such as electricity, roads, water supply, solid and liquid waste
disposal facilities
• Need for additional land for possible future expansion
• Existing or planned development in surrounding area (tourist or other)

CARRYING CAPACITY
As the success of any coastal tourism venture is dependent upon maintaining a healthy environment, most problems
related to coastal development are the results of placing too much stress on limited coastal resources, a condition
known as ‘exceeding the carrying capacity’. Carrying capacity is not a fixed amount and varies with geographic
areas as well as with the degree of human use. Carrying capacity can be physically, environmentally, or socially
limited.

CARRYING CAPACITY IN COASTAL ZONE ENVIRONMENT IN RELATION TO TOURISM

In areas where there are many coastal resources users, it may not be prudent to plan a hotel development. The
impacts from the hotel and associated tourism may exceed the area's carrying capacity, resulting in increased user
conflicts and decreased resource sustainability and economic losses for all involved. A careful pre-study must be
conducted to determine the suitability of an area for tourism development in regards to carrying capacity. A tourist
development not only includes the actual building to house the tourists but also the inevitable restaurants, shops,
and service facilities that accompany it. All of these must be considered to determine impacts on carrying capacity.
Coastal tourism developers must consider how their project will affect the coastal ecosystems. As these systems are
interconnected, developers must assess the extent to which their actions will affect the coastal region as a whole.
Activities such as filling a wetland or mangrove will increase the amount of pollutants reaching nearby shore waters,
reduce local fish stocks by removing habitat and breeding grounds, and reduce nutrients near shore waters. This
will cause economic and social losses to other user groups as well as to the tourism sector due to decreased water
quality. A healthy coastal region will thus attract tourism, while a polluted one will discourage it. The local
community must not be kept isolated from activities carried out near its locality which may affect the local residents’
usual route to work and leisure activities.

DEVELOPMENT WITHIN CLOSE PROXIMITY OF CULTURAL AND

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES
Bangladesh has a rich cultural and archaeological heritage and some of its finest sites are located in Cox’s Bazar.
The Directorate of Archaeological Preservation (DAP) is in charge of "the preservation of important archaeological,
historical and cultural sites, as well as the coastal zone's scenic beauty and important recreational areas”. Within
this framework, the DAP has formalized Archaeology Departmental zoning laws whose main requirement is that
development is prohibited within 200 meters of the designated sites.
Further, the DAP has the authority to modify, or if necessary, prohibit, development within the coastal zone if it is
believed that this development threatens to destroy or decrease the qualities of the site which make it unique and
important. Lastly, development in the vicinity of these sites should be in accordance with all other government
authorities like the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, the Directorate of Archaeological Preservation and Chittagong
Development Authority guidelines and regulations for tourist facilities in the coastal zone.

DESIGN AESTHETICS OF THE AREA

Along with regulatory considerations, design should be sensitive to the aesthetics of an area. If the development is
within view of an important site or building, the tourist facility should not be taller than that site. The design of the
exterior of the building should also be constructed to harmonies with the architectural style of the site. A famous
example of this type of planning is the city of Washington D.C., where several historical monuments have been
designed in a complementary architectural style. The buildings within the city can also not be higher than the
Washington Monument. These design guidelines contribute to making Washington a popular tourist destination as
they enhance the significant features of the area.
GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF HOW SCALE AND ARCHITECTURAL STYLE MAY ACT TO ENHANCE
SCENIC BEAUTY

These planning considerations do not have to be applied solely to buildings, however. They can be applied to
archaeological ruins and scenic areas as well. In Cox’s Bazar, for example, preserving its scenic beauty obviously
did not enjoy a high priority. This is evidenced by the number of hotels adjacent to the beach which obscure the
view from the road. As less and less scenic and physical access is available to tourists, the greater the likelihood
they will go elsewhere to better planned areas. These considerations are particularly important in areas of cultural,
archaeological, and scenic beauty similar to the example of Cox’s Bazar cited here, but should also be considered
for any tourist development. Planning and design which enhance Cox’s Bazar’s natural coastal assets act to protect
its main tourist attractions.

LANDSCAPE DESIGN AND VEGETATION MANAGEMENT IN THE COASTAL

BELT
The coastal regions of Bangladesh contain rare species of vegetation which also provide protection from storms,
habitat for birds and mammals, shade from the sun, and a barrier to the erosional forces of the ocean. The best
approach concerning vegetation removal and landscaping is to leave as much of the pre-existing vegetation in place
as possible. Removal of vegetation will increase the erosion of valuable top soil, siltation and pollution to local
waters, contributing thereby to the overall costs of any building project.
Further, large trees can take decades to grow and should be considered an asset for the shade and beauty they provide
to the landscape. The value of maintaining trees and vegetation is summarized in picture. The landscaping
requirements of any tourist facility will vary according to physical parameters such as soil type, exposure to
elements such as wind and saltwater, amount of rainfall, and contour of the development area. Requirements will
also vary according to the social dimension of the facility. Some social parameters may include the type of tourist
catered towards, their demands for privacy, and visual aesthetics. Practical considerations include the amount of
maintenance that needs to be invested in the landscape, as well as considerations of the total cost. An overall plan
should be developed with the consultation of someone who knows about vegetation in Bangladesh and who is
familiar with the physical constraints in a given area. Unplanned landscaping can lead to future problems such as
obscured views or buckled pavements. Contrariwise planned landscapes can enhance the atmosphere of a resort
while providing guests shade and privacy.

SUPPLY OF FRESH WATER AND AVAILABILITY OF OPEN SOURCE

The two main sources of water are surface and ground water; both are recharged and sustained through precipitation.
Surface water includes rivers, lakes, streams, and springs. Due to their direct contact with human activities, most
surface water sources in Bangladesh are polluted. Groundwater, on the other hand, is located below ground and is
classified as such only if the water supply fully saturates the adjacent soil. Available water sources must be
quantified and calculated according to the average consumption of the proposed development to determine if the
supply is adequate. Costs will increase if water needs to be transported to a resort and stored. For example, one
Malaysian resort on Pulau Babi Besar, Lankawi Island, was designed to house 200 guests, but in reality only caters
to 50 guests as it is limited by its water supply. In considering water supply needs, may be helpful in determining
the water needs of tourists. Although water supply figures vary drastically, in general, tourists from developed,
industrial nations will use more fresh water than will domestic tourists or tourists from other developing nations.
Water demand may also vary widely according to the location of the resort, and the time of day. The highest periods
of use are in the early morning and evening when water use can be as much as 200 percent greater than the average
water use throughout the rest of the day and night. Of course the design of a tourist facility may also determine the
quantity of water used by guests.

According to the World Tourism Organization’s standards for resort planning and development, tropical beach
resorts should plan on a daily consumption of water per person of about 500-1000 litres per day. In contrast, Indian
standards estimate hotel water demand at only 180 liters per person per day. In addition, the proper placement of
water wells on the development site is perhaps one of the most important design considerations as water is a
fundamental necessity at any tourist facility.
Another concern related to well placement in coastal areas is the risk of salt water intrusion. This occurs when fresh
water is pumped from the well faster than it can be recharged by rainfall or runoff allowing salt water to enter the
well which is, naturally, unsuitable for human consumption or most other uses.
 LOCATION OF WELLS

Determining the sources of water supply, water storage, and demand must be done at the planning stage. If water
sources are too limited for the proposed development, alternative sources must be found or the scale of the plan
must be reduced.

WASTE WATER
Along with any water supply scheme, there must be an appropriate plan for disposal of waste water, storm water
and sewage. The lack of infrastructure development places the appropriate design responsibilities on the individual
developers. Design considerations may include the possible size of the proposed project, topography of the site,
height of the water table at the site location, and location of fresh water wells.

SEWAGE DISPOSAL
Sewage comprises the waterborne wastes of a human community carried in a sewer system normally containing
animal or vegetable matter in suspension or solution, excluding sludge. Sewage can carry human diseases through
viruses and bacteria that are pathogenic to humans. Untreated or improperly treated sewage is a health hazard and
can contaminate drinking water sources and coastal waters. Contaminated coastal waters are not suitable for
swimming and other recreation activities, resulting not only in environmental degradation, but economic losses
from tourist declines and increasing health costs of residents. Since there are few central municipal sewage
treatments and disposal systems operating in Cox’s Bazar, septic tanks and soil absorption systems need to be
developed. Large hotels of more than 100 rooms must be required to install waste water treatment facilities.
Specifications for these systems should be given in the Code of Practice for the Design and Construction of Septic
Tanks.

SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL AND RECYCLING

Disposal of solid wastes (plastic, glass, paper, leftover food) is a difficult process in most tropical developing
nations. Public infrastructure for solid waste disposal is lacking in all but the largest cities, and even there, it is
usually inadequate. Nevertheless, solid waste management must be viewed as essential for environmental and
human health (Wilson and Nair, 1992, cited in Sullivan, 1995). In Cox’s Bazar, which lacks adequate public waste
management systems, the developer must plan for solid waste storage and disposal methods for the proposed
tourism facility. There are presently no recycling facilities in Cox’s Bazar and this has been identified as constituting
a major setback for the waste management requirement.

DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR TOURIST FACILITIES

The appropriate selection of a site and a detailed plan for the entire plot of land should be developed in the first
instance. This site plan should show the exact location of facilities to be constructed, including reception areas,
guest rooms, staff areas (i.e., kitchen, laundry facilities, workshops, etc.), restaurants, swimming pools, parking
areas, access roads, etc. For each structure to be constructed, the size should be indicated as well as the type of
building materials to be used. This section discusses the important factors to be considered when developing such
a site plan, particularly the need to ensure that setbacks and buffer zones are incorporated into the overall plan.

SITE SELECTION ON CAPACITY BUILDING IS INSTRUMENTAL

Coastal land is a limited resource valuable for many different uses. It is important that any development which does
not require a coastal location be built inland from the coastline. By doing so, greater access for all users is established
as is land for strictly water-dependent uses. Supporting facilities for tourist resorts should be located away from the
coast as much as possible as locating these facilities on the shoreline may occupy valuable space, pollute near shore
waters due to the increased surface runoff, and may also greatly increase the chances of storm damage. Some
environmental variables to be considered have to do with the type and amount of beach available for recreation, and
whether the beach is eroding or accreting. Another consideration is whether the ocean is suitable for the activities
of the proposed establishment. A further consideration is whether the overall ecosystem can support another hotel,
and particularly whether this project overburdens the local water quantity or the site-carrying capacity. Other
considerations relate to sewage and water systems. It is important to test the proposed development area to determine
whether there is an adequate supply of fresh water. Further, this site must be properly placed in relation to the
sewage system to protect against faecal contamination.
Further, a careful review of the surrounding ecosystems must be conducted to determine what impacts, if any, the
proposed project may have on these important coastal ecosystems. By anticipating the potential impacts before they
actually occur, the method with the least impacts can be adopted and the expected impacts can be planned for and
lessened. Developing along the coast can have a wide range of impacts as illustrated in chapter two. Proper planning
and siting will minimize these impacts.
Social aspects to consider when siting a tourist facility include a careful assessment of all local uses of the proposed
development area, including potential ways to limit the impacts on them. A development project that inhibits the
traditional uses of a region will most likely not be welcomed by the community, resulting in decreased living quality
for local people and may also result in decreased vacation quality for visitors. Another social variable concerns the
determination of the type of clientele expected to frequent the establishment and planning according to desired
needs.

SETBACKS
Regarding Cox’s Bazar’s future, while beach structures are being planned, setbacks must always be factored in as
they are an instrumental component in planning sustainably. Opportunities for their correct utilization have already
been lost in the last few years when built expansion occurred without due consideration made to their preservation.
Although some tourism developers feel setbacks decrease their establishment's desirability to tourists, there are
several advantages to having setbacks in place. In a resort or tourist area, the land which is set back between the
built development and the beach can be enhanced and provide a multitude of attractions to tourists. Most tourists
come from countries where they have spent months indoors avoiding the cold. When they travel to Cox’s Bazar,
they want to spend as much time as possible outside. The beach will always be an attraction but open, landscaped
spaces away from the water can be equally as appealing in providing:

• Shade from the sun and heat

• Places for artists or photographers to work
• Native vegetation which provides tourists an opportunity to study indigenous plants and trees
• Open space to enhance the view of the coastline and ocean
By allowing seasonal or long term changes and storm surges to occur, economic losses will be minimized as coastal
structures adhering to set back land will generally avoid most of the severe damage. The development authority
should list specific setback requirements for beachside development in Cox’s Bazar, as many countries’ general
allowance of 60 meters from the mean high water mark is considered. Planning at this stage of the development
project is most important as proper planning can make the project cost effective and thereby save developers both
time and money.
 THE IMPORTANCE OF SET BACK LAND FOR ANY DEVELOPMENT OF COASTAL AREAS

COMMON AREAS FOR GUESTS (POOL, BEACH FRONT, SPORTS FACILITIES, LOUNGES,
RESTAURANTS)
It is obvious that most of the tourists do not visit Cox’s bazar to spend much time in their hotel rooms, but rather
prefer to seek out open space to walk or a suitable sea or hill view location to gather together. Guests typically spend
the majority of their waking hours in common areas of the resort (or on off-site tours or excursions). In fact, these
common areas should be seen as the center, or nucleus, of the entire resort. Since most guests travel to the coast to
be near the sea, some of these common areas should be located with a sea view. For example, restaurants or lounges
where people spend time eating, drinking or relaxing should also provide nice views of the beach or other natural
landscape features. Swimming pools should be located in the center of the resort, possibly even near the beach, as
many guests will want to spend a lot of time swimming and sunbathing poolside, particularly at low tides when
swimming in the sea is difficult. Beach bandas can be spread out along the beachfront, allowing guest’s access to
the water as well as privacy from other guests. Paths between the beach and pool should be carefully planned so as
to protect existing vegetation and dune stability. In some cases, elevated boardwalks may also be needed.

ROOMS OR BUNGALOWS
Many guests will pay extra to have a room with a sea view and developers often place the luxury rooms along the
beach to meet this demand. Depending on the size of the plot (particularly the extent to which it spreads out along
the beach) and on the number of rooms, it may not be possible for all rooms to have sea views. This may be one of
the reasons why it is so important to locate the common areas mentioned above in areas close to or within viewing
distance of the sea or beachfront. This means that the rooms would benefit from being clustered around these
common areas. Clustering the rooms together makes sense economically as well since all of the infrastructure
services such as water pipes or septic systems can be centrally located and serve more than one room. Trees or other
vegetation should be maintained between rooms to provide guests with privacy.

SERVICE FACILITIES AND UTILITIES (KITCHENS, WORK AREAS, PUMPS,

GENERATORS, ETC.)
Optimally, guests should never see or hear staff work stations or facilities – in fact, guests should not even know
they exist. In addition, since these work areas do not require a sea view, they can be located inland, away from the
sea and beachfront. Noisy machinery such as pumps and generators should be located far from rooms or common
areas so that guests cannot hear or see them. Separate buildings or structures should be used to house laundry
facilities, kitchens, and other work areas and separate paths constructed to provide access only to staff. Again,
vegetation can be quite effectively used to shield these areas from view.

ACCESS ROADS, PARKING AND RECEPTION AREAS

Guests should be able to unload their bags and belongings at the reception area and then park their vehicles a good
distance away from the rooms or common areas. This reduces the amount of noise from vehicles and also minimizes
the amount of dust that could be kicked up and blown into rooms or commons areas. The reception area should be
considered the gateway to the hotel or resort – once guests pass through the gateway, they feel they have entered a
different environment.

FUTURE DIRECTION FOR TOURISM RESEARCH IN COX’S BAZAR

While this research was being conducted, it revealed that a local approach to tourism may vary according to the
presence of absence of local benefits, occupational interests and sociocultural standards of the locality. As the
impact of climate change on the world’s tourist destinations is yet to be fully felt, any future research may address
this issue and find new aspects in the area of tourism sustainability studies. Huge technological advancements and
a change in the local economy may also promote new thoughts and provide further insights as regards this problem.
The critical point of reference for tourism managers that needs to be identified through future research in Cox’s
Bazar and many other tourist destinations globally is carrying capacity. Carrying capacity is multi-dimensional in
a tourism setting. In other words, it encompasses not only the amount of tourism that can be sustained by the natural
and social environment, but also the amount of tourism that can be sustained in a destination before it loses its
attractiveness to its visitors. The complexity of determining these measurements is overwhelming and poses a
massive challenge to researchers. In fact, carrying capacity is rarely predicted and generally only ever identified
after it has been surpassed. However, the reality is that carrying capacity is a central and crucial element of
sustainability.
On a broader geographical scale, future research on tourism should focus on the dynamics of innovation in tourism
destinations. The cynicism of much of the tourism literature is reflected in the reality that the decline of tourism
destinations is so much more frequent than innovation. Ideally destinations should not exceed the threshold that
sends them into decline but, in reality, many have passed it a long time ago. This necessitates research that focuses
on how to reverse environmental and societal degradation resulting from excessive tourism development. Though
one potential area of focus could be to explore the merits of upgrading mass tourism into one geared towards
attracting fewer, higher-spending tourists, obviously this may not be ideal in a rapidly changing economic era where
affordability may accelerate faster than anticipation.
Regarding the potential future focus of tourism research in general, it is also important to attempt to ensure that the
current fragmentation and possible lack of comparability in the tourism literature actually improves as opposed to
worsening. Due to the site specificity of tourism impacts, case studies are an important element of tourism research.
However, they must be comparable, quantitatively rigorous and replicable in order for them to achieve the objectives
of building on the findings of past research. Without meeting these objectives, such studies cannot contribute to the
advancement of theories and tourism academics. Universal evaluation and monitoring schemes should also be
established. There is already a plethora of ways to define, evaluate, certify and monitor ecotourism and sustainability
criteria in tourism destinations. There are so many, in fact, that there have even been studies to evaluate the different
certification schemes. This type of scenario only serves to increase confusion about how to approach tourism
management. Again, without identifying common research and evaluation tools, it will not be possible to build on
our current knowledge.

SUMMARY
This research purports to act as a clear wakeup call that the time for tourism decision makers to take measures to
manage tourism development more effectively, is now. It is believed that the present results illustrate that Cox’s
Bazar’s local inhabitants may already have a clear and intelligent understanding of what they want and need to get
out of tourism development and the impacts that it has had on their livelihood and environment. The government
of Bangladesh has already established a legislative and regulatory framework to prevent negative impacts and
explore tourism’s potential further, but studies have been done showing that it still has miles to go to achieve a
sustainability stage in built perspectives.
For my part, I believe there should be an appropriate architectural activism in planning tourism installations in
tourist destinations like Cox’s Bazar, designed to ensure harmony among the key elements so that they may
contribute to achieve overall sustainability. The existence of Cox’s Bazar as a viable tourist destination is
undoubtedly based on the recognition that the powerful position it may hold in future depends upon the development
of a mindful, monitored, precautionary approach to tourism development which may even result in it becoming an
international showcase for sustainable tourism. This study hopefully reinforces the understanding that architectural
activism being placed in the center of Cox’s Bazar’s tourism development strategy may espouse ever brighter and
more prosperous immediate eco-tourism prospects that could even extend beyond Bangladesh’s immediate national
borders.
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