A Research Paper on

Saint Martin Island, Dark Tourism & Eco-tourism practice on Hatia.

Course title: Business Statistics

Course code: THM 2201

Submitted by:
Shakil (ASH2021045M)
Shahriar Iqbal Sakib (MUH2021047M)
Samiya Wasi (ASH2021048F)
Kowshik Chakma (ASH2021049M)

Submitted to:
Sanjoy Kumar Acharjee
Lecturer, Dept. of Tourism & Hospitality Management
NSTU

Submission Date: 15.09.2022

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 Table of content
SN Name Topic Page
Assessment of
Shakil (Group Leader) satisfaction level on a 3 - 14
1 tourist destination:
(ASH2021045M)
Saint Martin Island

Shahriar Iqbal Sakib Prospects & 15 - 30

2 Challenges of Dark
(MUH2021047M)
Tourism

Samiya Wasi
Eco Tourism practice
(ASH2021048F)
3 on Hatia 31 - 38
Kowshik Chakma
(ASH2021049M)

Assessment of satisfaction level on a tourist destination: Saint Martin Island

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1. Introduction

The tourism sector is expanding not just in rich nations but also in developing and impoverished
nations. Bangladesh has lately been added to the list of developing nations with enormous
tourism potential. Being a deltaic country at the mouth of the Bay of Bengal, it features
expansive coastal areas and islands that help a lot of people support themselves. There are hardly
many large mountains in Bangladesh. It lacks resorts that offer tourist experiences in a scorching
desert or white, snowy Alps for skiing or jumping. Bangladesh is the most southern country in
Asia, hence it has few resources to feed its starving population. Being situated in the northeast part
of the Bay of Bengal, St. Martin's island is one of the smallest islands of the world. One of the most
gorgeous islands in Bangladesh is Saint Martin Island. Narikel Jinjira is the name of this island
among the locals (Coconut Island). It can be found in the Bay of Bengal, about 9 km south of the
Cox's Bazar-Teknaf peninsula. The subtropical monsoon climate that dominates Bangladesh
greatly influences its weather. This island has a tremendous amount of biological diversity,
including 300 species of mollusks, 150 species of fish, five species of amphibians, 66 types of
coral, five species of turtles, five species of snails, 200 species of birds, and 20 species of
mammal. Approximately 8 km2 is the island's surface area, though this might change depending
on the tide. The top tourist destination in Bangladesh is this one.

2. Literature Review

A tourist destination is defined as a place where people travel for longer than a day but less than
a year, away from their customary residence. However, this concept has been evolving since the
1970s in accordance with the type, motivation, and travel objectives. In their study, Nadeau,
Heslop, O'Reily, and Luk (2008) discovered that through tourism, people expose themselves to
other countries, which in turn shapes impressions of other nations throughout the world. In order
to compete with the growing number of tourist attractions on the worldwide market, one strategy
is to change and improve existing attractions (Ekinci and Hosany, 2006). Crompton's description
of a destination perception is the one that is most frequently cited (1979). Gallarza and Saura

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(2002) agreed that a person's views, knowledge, and impressions about a certain location make
up their picture of that location. A groundbreaking study by Echtner and Richie (1993) found a
correlation between destination imagery and a variety of physical and intangible characteristics,
as well as psychological and functional traits. Recently, tourism is seen as a very multifaceted series
of activities related to economic productivity (Pretes, 1995). To build sustainable competitive advantage,
the importance of recognizing the customer value is becoming the most significant key (Woofruff, 1997).
A tourist destination's appeal to the global market depends on a variety of elements, including the
presence of tourism organizations, stunning scenery and a welcoming environment, motivating travel
experiences, and local support (Pike, 2008). Pike also mentioned that certain additional measures, such as
risk and inseparability, intangibility, perishability, heterogeneity, and sustainability, are necessary to
maintain a balance in the global market (Pike, 2008). The growth of the tourism business has always been
significantly influenced by transportation. Tourists can use any method of transportation to go to their
destinations, but the ship, which departs from Teknaf point, is the one that is most frequently used to visit
Saint Martin. In order to give passengers a good and enjoyable travel experience, hotel and
accommodations are crucial (Middleton and Clarke, 1999). Food and drink have recently been one of the
driving forces in the travel business. The quality of service associated to food is quite important, and food
plays a big role in the travel industry. The most popular menu items are largely determined by a
destination's culture and demographics (MacDonald, 1997). The destination's need for entertainment
comes next. The historical landmarks of a country serve as the starting point for entertainment, which can
also take different forms like nightclubs, parks, etc. These entertainment venues contribute significantly
to a nation's economy (MacDonald, S. 1997).

3. Sources of Data

It describes the procedure for identifying, gathering, summarizing, processing, and analyzing
data in order to address the research issue. In while secondary data gathering involves using the
data outputs gathered by someone else, primary data collection involves the researcher collecting
the data directly. Information that has been obtained from a different source is referred to as
secondary data. It was taken from public or unpublished sources rather than being compiled from
scratch.

Primary Sources

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  Questionnaires
 Interviews
 Visual Observation
 Photograph
 Polls

Secondary Sources

Secondary data are collected from already published books, journal, previous works, internet etc.
By gathering all the information the field report of our study tour is made.

4. Methodology
This study is conducted using both primary and secondary data. The data was collected from
different tourists in Bangladesh through a self-administered survey tool. The first section of the
questionnaire contains closed questions that helped to collect tourists’ demographic
characteristics and travel behavior. Demographic characteristics included the age, gender,
income, marital status, occupation, and length of stay, composition of groups and choice of
accommodation of respondents. These questions showed trip length and duration, kind of travel
partner, the motive for traveling in the Saint Martin’s Island and the way respondents wished to
travel. These demographic characteristics ultimately contribute tourist’s motivation to travel. The
second segment of questionnaire was related to destination preferences. Questions in regarding
the destination preferences were allocated into 10 categories: natural beauty, service quality,
awareness about the destination, adventure, convenient lodging, security, easy and comfortable
transportation, safe and quality food and shopping facility and relaxation opportunity. The study
was conducted in total of 100 respondents from January to March, 2016 both at the tourist
destination and online.

5. Data Analysis

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 Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent
Valid Asif 1 4.0 4.0 4.0
Aziz 1 4.0 4.0 8.0
Elias Hossen 1 4.0 4.0 12.0
Fahad 1 4.0 4.0 16.0
Fahim 1 4.0 4.0 20.0
Harunur Rashid 1 4.0 4.0 24.0
Hasan 1 4.0 4.0 28.0
Jafor Ahmed 1 4.0 4.0 32.0
Jahirul 1 4.0 4.0 36.0
Kowshik 1 4.0 4.0 40.0
Mahmud 1 4.0 4.0 44.0
Maksuda 1 4.0 4.0 48.0
Md Sany 1 4.0 4.0 52.0
Munna 1 4.0 4.0 56.0
Nadia 1 4.0 4.0 60.0
Nadim 1 4.0 4.0 64.0
Naeem 1 4.0 4.0 68.0
Noyon 1 4.0 4.0 72.0
Oliur Rahman 1 4.0 4.0 76.0
Raisa 1 4.0 4.0 80.0
Rima 1 4.0 4.0 84.0
Sakib 1 4.0 4.0 88.0
Shawon 1 4.0 4.0 92.0
Sobuj 1 4.0 4.0 96.0
Sowad 1 4.0 4.0 100.0
Total 25 100.0 100.0

The data is collected from 25 persons. Where 15 people are students and 10 peoples is another
occupation without student. In the above table show that the frequency, the percentage and also
the cumulative percentage.

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The above table show that the statistical analysis of the respondents. The table also shows the
mean, median, mode of the respondents, by which we know the satisfaction level of these
respondents.

6. An overview

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The Saint Martin Island is one of the most beautiful islands in Bangladesh. This island is locally
known as Narikel Jinjira (Coconut Island). It is located in the Bay of Bengal, approximately 9
km south of the Cox’s Bazar -Teknaf peninsula. During the British occupation the island was
named as St. Martine Island. The first land use of Saint Martine started about 250 years ago with
the come of Arabian sailors. St. Martin's Island is a small island (area only 8 km2 ) in the
northeastern part of the Bay of Bengal. It is about 8 km west of the northwest coast of Myanmar,
at the mouth of the Naf River. It is the only coral island in Bangladesh. The distance between the
island and Teknaf is about 34 km. A recent Bangladesh-Dutch study under Nature Conservation
Strategy-2 project has revealed that the island is not actually a coral island but it is the surface of
a submarine hill, which is a part of the Teknaf range stretching from Cox's Bazar to Teknaf. The
north portion of the island is called “Cheradia Dwip” because during high tide, this portion of the
island is separated from the other and also considered as the last southern landmark of
Bangladesh. This is the most attractive tourist spot in Bangladesh.

7. Location of the study area

The island is an administrative union of Teknaf Upazila under Cox‘s Bazar district in
Bangladesh. Saint Martin‘s Island is situated between 20°34´ to 20°39´ N latitude and 92°18´ to
92°2´ E. To the east the Myanmar boundary (Arakan coastal plain) lies only 4.5 km away, while
to the west and southwest it faces the Bay of Bengal. The total area of the island is about 12 km2
with the island itself being approximately 5.9 km2 and the rest of the area being rocky platforms
entering the sea (DOE, 2012). The island is about 9 km long and width ranges from 60 m to 1.8
km.

The island comprises three major parts:

i) Central Island,

ii) Middle Island, and

iii) Chera Dwip Island the southern-most part of the island. During high tides, a narrow channel
94 m wide and 2 m deep separates Chera Dwip Island from Central Island, this creates the
impression of two different islands.

8. Zonation of the Saint Martin's Island

There are five distinct physiographic areas within the Island: 1. Uttar Para is the northern part of
the Island with a maximum length, along the north-south axis, of 2,134 m, and a maximum width
(along the east-west axis) of 1,402 m. There is a shallow lagoon in the middle of Uttarpara and it
is connected to the sea during high tide by a narrow channel on the western coast. The topsoil of
Uttarpara consists of alluvial sands mixed with shells of molluscs. There are twosmall dead
lagoons and a stretch of marshy land in Dakshinpara. Fish landing sites, bazars and schools are
present only in Uttarpara. 2. Madhya Para, directly south of Golachipa is 1,524m long and 518m

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wide at its maximum. 3. Golachipa is a narrow neck of land connecting Uttar Para with Madhya
Para.

9. Accessibility
St. Martin’s Island, the only coral island and country`s last south area in Teknaf. Not only for St.
Martin, is Teknaf also incomparable in its beauty. The amazing blend of mountains, rivers and
the sea will surely impress someone. . The only way to reach St. Martin's Island is by boats and
ships from Teknaf. The highway we used to reach the Teknaf. The distance from Dhaka to
Teknaf is 4 about 380 Km by road. The name of the ship that we used to reach Saint Martin
Island is the MV Farhan. During the winter months, when seas are calm, there is a lot of traffic to
and from the mainland with 7 ferries catering to the tourists who visit the island mainly for day
trips. However, during the rainy season, the island is isolated from the mainland and can be
difficult to reach. The Naf River separating Bangladesh-Myanmar and the most beautiful sea
beach of Bangladesh – Teknaf Beach will fascinate someone. Apart from this, there is country`s
only game reserve forest located here in Teknaf, where there is a one thousand feet high
mountain named TAINGACHURA and thrilling kadamagha. Teknaf is now one of the most
discussed names for the Rohingya issue in the world. The area around the jetty, on the northeast
tip of the island, is called Narikeldia, there found a few hotels and restaurants. From here we pass
through the small village of Uttarpara en route to West Beach, which is the nicest place to stay.
The southern part of the island is called Dakshinpara. The only mode of transport on the island is
by cycle rickshaw van and most people walk from place to place as there is no road on which
vehicles can travel. Tourists use speed boats to go to visit Cheradia Island.All the hotels run their
generators until 11 PM after which power is cut off. Thus they rely on solar power, which is
popular throughout the island. There is no electricity supply from the national grid since a
hurricane in 1999.

10. Population and Culture

Currently there are 10,000 inhabitants in the Saint Martin’s island among them 4000 are voter.
Of the 10,000 peoples 45% are male and 55% people are female. There are 1500 households in
this island. Almost 50% peoples are farmer who cultivate vegetables, 20% peoples are
permanent fisherman, and 30-40% are whole month shopkeeper. The monthly income is 20-30
thousands tk. There are 3 schools (2 NGO and 1 government), 4 Madrasa, one college. Human
settlement started on the Island in the 1880s when several families migrated from what is now
Myanmar to live on the Island permanently. In the 1920s the hardwood trees of the Island,
reportedly mostly teak, were cut and sold to Myanmar (then Burma). From the 1940s onwards it
is reported that land was gradually converted to paddy cultivation, and from the 1960s onwards
this involved converting the main lagoon to cultivation. In 1996 there was a population of around
3,700 people belonging to 535 families (Paiker, 1996 in MoEF, 2001b); in 2000 the population
was 4,766 from 791 households (Islam, 2001) and in 2005 the population was 5,726 from 818
households (POUSH, 2006a) and the island has a total of 7000 inhabitants . Most of the

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inhabitants are ethnically Bangali and Muslims. This means that the population density is likely
by the late 2000s to be about 700 persons per km2 (Alam, 2018).

11. Vegetation and Cultivation

The entire island is covered with the coconut trees along with other unique natural vegetation.
For this reason the island named “NarikelJinjira (Coconut Island). Every part of Coconut tree is
usable. Some local peoples survive on the income that comes from the coconut trees. Easy
incomes comes mainly of selling coconut juice, but every part of the coconut tree is useful, and
incomes is generated by selling various parts of coconut trees, the hard shell that contains juice.
The leaf, fiber, trunk and root are sold in exchange of money. Local people use the 6 leaf of the
coconut trees to build various part of the house and partition, used for fuel, trunks are used for
boat making and other usages. There are some kolmilota vegetation’s also found in this island.
The southern island is good for rice produce and useful for winter crops for the islander.

12. Geological structure of Saint Martin Island

The structure is simple and is represented by an anticlinal uplift. The island lies on the eastern
flank of the anticline. A little of the axis of the anticline is traceable along the west coast of
Dakshinpara. The exposed portion of the axis runs NNW to SSE, approximately parallel to the
island. There is a fault along the northwestern shoreline with a trend nearly parallel to the axis.
The fault seems to be reverse in nature with the eastern side as the upthrown block. The anticline
is slightly asymmetrical with a monoclinal swing on the eastern flank. The bedrock on the
eastern flank near the axis dips very gently at an angle of 3° to 5° towards the east, increasing
eastwards to 10° to 12°. The monoclinal swing gives a high dip of 30° and above at Siradia. Very
little of the western flank is exposed above the sea which records a dip of 6° towards the west.
The monoclinal swing gives the anticline a box-like shape. The birth of the island is related to
the regional tectonics of Southeast Asia. As a sequel to the most dynamic Himalayan orogeny
during Middle Miocene Geological Structure of Saint Martin.

13. Geomorphology of Saint Martin

The main shoreline features are sandy beaches and dunes, where the main sediments are alluvial
sands. The beaches and dunes of the southern part of the Island have a higher carbonate content
compared to the northern Uttar Para beaches. Most carbonates comprise mollusc shell fragments.
The sandy beach in the north and north-east stretches 300-400 m into the sea. The western beach
is sandy but the sub-tidal area consists of a bed of boulders. Coastal dunes are widespread
immediately above the beach and along the shorelines. This dune system is particularly well
developed around the middle part of the island. The dunes of St. Martin’s are of two types: high
and low dunes. High dunes are up to 6 m in height and are mostly found on the western side of
Golachipa. Dunes along the northwest and south-west corners of the island are low, undulating
and broadly extended. These dune systems act as a natural defence against storms and tidal

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surges, when they help to save lives and properties. The topsoil of the main three parts of the
Island (Uttar Para, Madhya Para and Dakhin Para) consists of alluvial sands mixed with marine
calcareous (primarily molluscan in origin) deposits. Scattered throughout the area are small
clumps of coral colonies, many still in growth position. A large shallow lagoon is located in the
middle of Uttar Para. The lagoon has been largely converted into agricultural fields, and is
connected to the sea at high tide by a narrow tidal channel on the west coast. The remaining
flooded part of the lagoon has an area of about 0.4 km2 with a depth of 1 m or less. Uttar Para is
separated from Madhya Para and Dakhin Para by a narrow neck of land known as Galachipa.
Galachipa is a beach and dune environment. Similarly the surface deposits on Cheradia have a
high content of molluscan shells compared to the northern parts of the island. Figure: Rocks of
fanciful forms on the beach.

13.1 Sea water of Saint Martin Island

Surface circulation in the Bayof Bengal is determined by the monsoon winds and to some extent
by the hydrological characteristics of the open part of the Indian Ocean. The prevailing winds
reverse twice during the year. They blow from the south-west during May- September and from
the northeast during November-January with the transition taking place during the months in
between. Forced by these winds, circulation in the Indian Ocean has a general eastward direction
during summer and westward during winter. The inflow of freshwater from the Ganges-
Brahmaputra Delta into the Bay of Bengal has a significant impact: these reversing currents carry
low salinity Bay of Bengal water into more saline Arabian Sea water and vice versa playing a
crucial role in maintaining the freshwater - saltwater balance of the North Indian Ocean
(Vinayachandran and Kurian, 2008). The massive inflow of freshwater and sediment from the
Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers, and locally from the Naf River, is also an important factor
influencing the flora and fauna of the Island. Thus, coral reef development is inhibited due to low
water salinity, high turbidity and the soft substrates present. Tides The Island experiences normal
semidiurnal tides, i.e. two high and two low tides during a period of 24 hours and 52 minutes
(Banglapedia, 2008).

13.2 Fresh water of Saint Martin

Being very porous and permeable, the shelly limestones of the Island provide an excellent
aquifer wherever they occur beneath the alluvium. The shelly limestone and recent marine sand
are the chief sources of fresh water. The rocks underlying these two formations are mostly
impervious Tertiary shale and calcareous sandstone. As rain water cannot flow downward
through these rocks, it accumulates either in the shelly limestone or in the marine sand. The
shelly limestone that underlies the village of Jinjira averages 1.2 m (four feet) thick and is
overlain by 0.6-1.2 m (2-4 feet) of soil. Drinking and irrigation water is obtained by sinking
shallow wells 1.5-3 m (5-10 feet) to the level of the Tertiary rocks.

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13.3 Coral Rocks

Act as natural protection from erosion in the Island. The Saint Martin‘s coral reef protects the
coastal people and the coastlines from storm surges, acting as a natural barrier. This is an indirect
use value for the control of coastal erosion and other damage protection from storms, wave
action and wind. IWM (2009) stated that during the pre-monsoon (April to May) and post
monsoon (October to December) disastrous tropical cyclones form in the 25 Bay of Bengal. The
eastern coast experiences maximum inundation between 4 m and 6 m. If we consider coral reefs
as a protector as sea walls, then we can consider the construction costs of shoreline protection to
estimate the cost of such protection.

13.4 Shale Concretions

A concretion is a hard, compact mass of matter formed by the precipitation of mineral cement
within the spaces between particles, and is found in sedimentary rock. Concretions are often
ovoid or spherical in shape, although irregular shapes also occur. Concretions have a different
composition from the rock in which they are found. An example is a limestone concretion found
in a bed of shale. A concretion forms around a nucleus that commonly is a fragment of fossil
shell, bone or plant material. Concretions form after the material around them has been
deposited. We observed shale concretions in the rocky beach of Saint Martin‘s island.

13.5 Swash and Backwash

Swash is when the waves come towards the beach/land. Backwas h is the opposite - it moves
away from the beach/land. They create a steep narrow beach. When swash is stronger than their
backwash causing them to deposit material on the beach.

14. Climate & ecosystem of Saint Martin’s island

The unique island of St. Martin, the only place in Bangladesh where coral colonies are found, is
a natural treasure of Bangladesh that attracts thousands of tourists. St. Martin’s Island is
significant for biodiversity value and important for exclusive economic zone in Bangladesh.
Climate of Saint Martin Island is heavily influenced by the subtropical monsoon climate. 
Seasonal climate in November – March the island usually experiences pleasant weather and calm
seas making this the peak tourism season.  Wind direction In April- May and October –
November Cyclonic storm develop in the Bay of Bangla. Ecosystem of Saint Martin Island A
cross-section of the different habitats and eco-systems that make up St. Martin’s Island would
show a transition from terrestrial to marine habitats. In addition to the dry land of the Island, the
key habitats are shallow water marine habitats, including rocky and sandy inter-tidal habitats,
offshore lagoons, rocky sub-tidal habitats, coral aggregations, sea grass beds, soft coral habitats
and offshore soft-bottom habitats. Rocky habitant the whole terrestrial part of the Island was
once a rocky habitat but this has gradually been altered through the removal of rocks and

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boulders for agriculture. Now much of the land is cultivated and of very limited ecological and
bio-diversity interest.

15. Biodiversity of Saint Martin’s Island

The diversity of species is not evenly distributed through planet because life depends on many
factors including geography. For example, tropical regions support more life than Polar Regions.
Saint Martins is naturally abundant of biodiversity. The biodiversity of Saint Martins island can
be categorized in two main classes Flora (include all plants) & Fauna.

16. Market economy of Saint Martin Island

A market economy is an economy in which decisions regarding investment, production, and
distribution are based on supply and demand, and prices of goods and services are determined in
a free price system. The major defining characteristic of a market economy is that investment
decisions and the allocation of producer goods are mainly made by negotiation through markets.
This is contrasted with a planned economy, where investment and production decisions are
embodied in a plan of production In this island people exchange resources, such as money, for
other resources, such as goods or services, on a voluntary basis in the market. Products: Fish,
Dry fish, Chocolate, Pickles, Snail, Coconut, Shoe, Mineral water, Crab. Sources of these
products: Saint Martin, Myanmar, Teknaf, Cox’sBazar.

Seller: Who sells products? There are two types of sellers in Saint Martin market area.The
economic condition of permanent sellers are low because of our sellers. Permanent &Temporary
Buyer: Tourist and some local people are main buyer of this market area. More than 80%
product of this market is used by tourist.

 17.1 Conclusions
St. Martin Island has become a great tourist attraction spot in Bangladesh. Lately, it has turned as
a fast economic growing spot due to tourism business. Consequently, the natural environment
and ecosystem is continuously deteriorating at an alarming rate. Therefore, government and local
authority have already adopted some policy and plans but defective implementation hereto.
Moreover, lack of awareness among local people and tourist is a great barrier to implement all
the planned policies and laws. The enormous biodiversity of the Saint Martin Island has been
reducing day by day. Increasing rate of unplanned tourism has been resulting in increased
disturbances hampering the natural processes in the island making it vulnerable. The coral
population has been decreasing remarkably over the years, and currently, it has reached an
alarming level. The coral collection, overfishing, lack of enforcement of laws, movement of
tourist ships and improper waste management are identified as the reasons of coral depletion.
Environmental condition is still found suitable to support the growth and existence of the coral
community. Government intervention is immediately needed to save the biodiversity of this
island.
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17.2 Recommendation

 To strengthen monitoring of biological resources and impact of climate change for

appropriate biodiversity management.
 To develop spatial and integrated coastal zone management and maritime spatial
planning.
 To develop alternative livelihoods for the people who are dependent on coral resources.
 To emphasize the conservation programed of coral ecosystem and protection of
migratory birds.
 To strengthen research work on the impact of climate change.
 To measure the adverse effects of natural calamities, global warming and sea level rise.
 To implement ecosystem approach and community based conservation programed by
involving local people.

Prospects & Challenges of Dark Tourism in Bangladesh

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1. Introduction

Dark tourism has passed into the language and study of tourism after the gen Z era. It is now
established as a term to designate those sites and locations of genocide, holocaust, assassination,
crime or incarceration that have served to attract visitors. Liberation war of Bangladesh touched
millions of lives around the globe because of the amount of people died during the war. So, it’s
possible to establish a tourism product centered on the subject The liberation war museum,
Rayerbazar, Mirpur jalladkhana, Racecourse Maidan, National Memorial, Jatiya Sangsad
Bhaban, Jamalpur Front War, Chittagong’s Operation Jackpot, and two commonwealth
cemeteries are Mainamati War cemetery & Chattogram War cemetery, Kalurghat Radio Station,
all these can be incorporated in the liberation war tourism package.
All of the places mentioned above do not fit into the domain of what we generally associate with
tourism, yet they are gaining immense popularity as tourism destination. These places seem to
attract people from different age groups for different purposes. The aim of the visit to any of
these places is to feel the power of faith, hope and a belief that through struggles once can
overcome the problems in life. Such type of tourism is known as "Dark Tourism".

Developing Dark Tourism will be fruitful for the tourism industry in Bangladesh. It will not only
attract the foreign tourists, but will also help in retaining the domestic tourists going abroad for
experiencing it. With the incoming of tourists, economic development of the destinations could
be ensured. This would lessen the burden on government for doing the same. Also, if such
destinations are located in the states which do not have much tourism potential because of
geographical limitations, then development of dark tourism would let them enjoy the economic
benefits tourism industry provides.

To develop Dark Tourism, proper planning is a must and it should be done in a systematized
manner. First, one must find out the sites which are serving for the cause worldwide. Second,
similar sites should be identified within Bangladesh and their history should be carefully
explored. Third, a study should be conducted to assess tourist's attitude towards dark tourism.
Fourth, Strategies should be formulated on the basis of results.

2. Literature Review

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The availability of literature on dark tourism is limited. This is because not many countries have
focused on dark tourism as they do on other segments such as religious, medical, cultural, leisure
tourism. Walter (2009) studied the dimensions of psychology and sociology with respect to Dark
Tourism and argued for mediation between different ideologies for an effective promotion of
tourism. The study also acknowledged the role of media in promoting dark tourism and the
emotional aspect of humans which necessitate the development of dark tourism as a product.
Niemela (2010) examined out which factors motivate tourists to visit dark attractions. The key
characteristics of dark tourists were identified and compared with the heritage tourists. Tourist
experiences in dark tourism were also studied. The Maslow's model of Motivation was molded to
find out the motivational needs of dark tourists. Bittner (2011) acknowledged that although dark
tourism sites have existed since the ancient time, yet the demand for the product is scarce. The
researcher tries to determine whether dark tourism fits into the purpose of religious or heritage
tourism or not. The study also highlights upon the economic benefits from promoting such
tourism in Croatia. The study throws a light on the methods to develop and promote dark tourism
products and the need for more quantitative research on the subject. (Verma, 2013) studied the
initiatives taken b the authorities with respect to dark tourism in India and what all could be done
for the same. Different sites that serve the purpose were identified and it was studied if they
could be developed as tourism product or not. The study concluded by recognising the need for
studying the phycology of Indian tourists before marketing dark tourism. (Podoshen, 2013)
examined the reasons for which people venture into dark tourism. Various factors that motivate
the fourists to go for dark tourism and the relationship between different art forms and dark
tourisms were established. (ROBINSON, 2015) studied the motivations and activities of tourists
at the different dark tourism sites. He concluded in his study that the major reason for people
visiting dark tourism sites is Education and Curiosity. Also, the behaviour pattern of tourists at
dark sites was compared to the behaviour of light tourists and striking contrast was found in
terms of collecting artefacts, souvenir. The study also investigated for the issues in defining the
term Dark Tourism. (Jeffrey,

Vivek, Susan & Jin, 2015) discussed the rapidly increasing fascination with dystopian dark
tourism. The study was conducted in three specific destinations where tourists engage with both
death and dystopia. (Dar & Reshi, 2016) explored the possibility of developing the dark tourism
I the state of Jammu & Kashmir. The study concluded that dark tourism has negligible
contribution in the GDP of the state. The study bats for effective marketing by identifying the
tourists needs and developing the product accordingly. The study also touches upon the aspect
related to marketing of such places as it involves certain ethical issues. (Singh, Kaur, & Singh,
2016) studied about the potential of dark tourism in India and identified possible challenges they
find affect the Dark Tourism in India. The study concluded that lack of awareness is major

3. Sources of Data

16
It refers to the process by which data is identified, collected, summarised, processed and
analysed to solve the research problem. In Primary data is collected first-hand by the researcher
themselves, whereas secondary data collection means using the data outputs collected by
someone else. Secondary data refers to second-hand information. It is not originally collected
and rather obtained from already published or unpublished sources.

Primary Sources of data

Questionnaires, Interviews, Observation, Focus, Polls

Secondary Sources of data

Documents, Archives, Statistics, Research paper, Museums

Finally, sources of data that are typically described as primary, for

example experiments, interviews, questionnaires etc, can be secondary sources too. If someone
else conducted they and you are only looking at the interview transcriptions, results of
questionnaires or write-ups of experiments that would make it secondary research. This is useful
if you are not able to reach your research subjects.

4. Methodology

The methodology part in the paper has been divided into parts-data collection and data analysis.
Data Collection For the study data has been collected from both primary and secondary sources.
Primary data was collected by conducting a survey on 15 students of NSTU & 10 any other
people. Secondary sources include reports from Tourism Board, Government of Bangladesh,
World Travel and Tourism Council reports, UNWTO reports, Journals and articles published
online. Electronic Media and from relevant literature. As Quantitative and Qualitative research
are complementary methods that one can combine in your surveys to get results that are both
wide-reaching and deep. So here we will use both quantitative and qualitative questionnaire. To
complete the overall survey, we will conduct our data into Word & Exel worksheet.

5. Data Analysis

17
Bangladesh has covered leaps and bounds in tourism segments that helped to create a great
tourism industry both for domestic & international. But there are still some segments which are
immensely popular worldwide but are yet to be tested in Bangladesh. Dark Tourism is one of
those untouched sectors. Developing Dark Tourism will be fruitful for the tourism industry in
Bangladesh. The key purpose of the study is to discover the prospects and challenges of dark
tourism in Bangladesh.

Data Collection For the study data has been collected from both primary and secondary sources.
Primary data was collected by conducting a survey on 15 students of NSTU & 10 any other
people (total 25 respondents). All the respondents had different opinion on survey questionnaire.

As from the survey, we visualized respondents’ opinion in Graphs, Bar, Line, Pie chart.

Here, in the first question we asked respondent if they ever heard about dark tourism. From, 25
respondents only 4 didn’t heard about dark tourism which is 16% of the total. Other 21
respondents had knowledge about dark tourism.

18
From the given graph we can see, most of the respondent heard about dark tourism from social
media (11 person) which is 44%; almost half of the total respondent. Both news source &
television has 4% of total from where respondent’s first heard about dark tourism. And 6
respondents heard about is from other sources.

As we asked respondents if they are interested in visiting any dark tourism site in bd, 18 of them
about 72% said yes; that would like to visit. Other 28% didn’t had any interest in it.

19
Here what motivation moves a part from carrying tourists to visit dark tourism, on that note 5
respondent thinks because it leaves on impressive experience, 10 of them thinks cause it connect
with the human pain who suffered in that place. 8 responded that they can learn more about the
place and 2

18 of total 25 respondent thinks that low level infrastructure hampering prospects of dark tourism
in bangladesh. Which is around 72% of total percentage; others 28% (7 people) responded No
about it.

20
About that sentence 12 people Agreed with it, which 48% of total. 5 people strongly agreed, 7
people disagreed and 1 people strongly disagreed with it.

On note of dark tourism promotes the conservation of culture and heritage; 8 people agreed with
it, 6 of them strongly agreed and 7 people remained neutral which is about 28% of total. Then 3
people disagreed and a strongly disagreed.

21
On the question of if you consider that dark tourism has good prospects in future 17 of
respondent replied in Yes and 3 replied that they don’t think dark tourism has good prospect. 5 of
them had no answer about it.

On the last question we asked respondents if there should be a special website for dark tourism
13 of them agreed with it. 8 of them strongly agreed but surprisingly 4 people disagreed on need
for special website.

22
6. An overview

In a world where travelling becomes more and more popular among all generations, the need for
new locations to visit, which are not fully commercialized yet, grows. That is where the niche
market dark tourism finds its attractions for individuals who want to experience adventures far
away from the safe and sound tourism. There is no doubt that a person is influenced by social
and cultural activities or events. A tourist can be persuaded and his perception of travel can be
related to his perception of the world.

The person appears to have a satisfied need to reach the desired stage. In the same way, a person
who wants to have experience or entertainment, instead, would try to find a specific place to
fulfill his wish. A place that looks attractive or attractive attracts tourists from different places. It
is the individual requirement of a tourist who, wherever she wants to go for fun, recreation,
vacations, business, etc. visit that place and explore it. They are those places on the globe that are
related to death, atrocity, disaster, tragedy or destruction, having a sinister past that attracts
tourists from different parts of the world and this forms the basis of the term ‘Dark Tourism’. In
other words, people who travel to various places with a dark history are called “Dark Tourism”
or “Mourning Tourism.”
According to Kang objections related to catastrophic events have become points of recognition,
but, in addition, they blunt the destinations and attractions of the travel industry itself. These
types of travel industries are regularly accepted in the interest of true mindfulness and social
equality; tourists claim to make obscure visits, as they can discover more about the madness in
the desire to avoid wild futures. These objections incorporate points as out of place as those of
cemeteries, cemeteries, murders, graves, front lines, mass passage, and previous homes of
defeated superstars. These attractions and places arouse negative feelings that include
compassion, fear, discouragement, horror, sympathy, pity, and feelings of revenge. Various
places with a dark history are called “Dark Tourism” or “Mourning Tourism.”
According to Kang objections related to catastrophic events have become points of recognition,
but, in addition, they blunt the destinations and attractions of the travel industry itself. These
types of travel industries are regularly accepted in the interest of true mindfulness and social
equality.

7. What is DARK TOURISM?

The term “Dark Tourism” or “Thanatourism” was defined by Seaton in 1996 (p. 240) as “travel
to a location wholly, or partially, motivated by the desire for actual or symbolic encounters with
death”. The word “Thanatos” originates from ancient Greek which translated to English means
“death”. As it states, the word “Thanatos” refers to “the personification of death, more
specifically violent death”. By Foley and Lennon, it was defined in 1996 as “the phenomenon
23
which encompasses the presentation and consumption (by visitors) of real and commodified
death and disaster sites”. The definition of the word dark or darkness refers to the absence of
light, the presence of evil, destruction and sorrow.
Dark tourism is defined as the travels to places associated with death, violence, disasters,
tragedies, and crimes against humanity. Dark tourism that first emerged in the 20th century with
the travel to destinations associated with death started to arouse interest in more people after
some people visited the site where Princess Diana had that fatal car crash argue that dark tourism
not only delivers important messages from past events but also provides tourism experiences that
serve the emotional or potential therapeutic function, noting that this type of tourism involves
many emotions such as fear, horror, sadness, depression, empathy, sympathy, and revenge. Dark
tourism, referred to as travel to places that remind the trauma of past events, includes traditional
death museums and areas where disasters or immoral events occurred. Dark tourism is also
defined as visits to touristic attractions where death, violence, pain, disasters, or terrible
historical events occurred. This concept contains several variables; these destinations are visited
for many purposes such as seeing untouched dark tourism areas, experiencing intentionally
created death-related events, feeling the danger of witnessing death, and learning the cause of the
events. Dark tourism involves many different characteristics, such as making a connection
between people and the deceased and the social integration of death. Tragic events lead to the
development of emotions culturally, emotionally, and cognitively. According to another
definition, dark tourism is a mixture of history, heritage, tragedy and tourism which makes it
possible to remember the victims of the past and contemplate the death of the contemporary era
as the dirty little secret of the tourism industry. The common points that emerge from the
definitions of the concept of dark tourism are given below;
 Dark tourism is associated with tragic events that directly affected societies.
 It has close links with violence.
 It is related to sudden tragic events or deaths.
 It does not include travels to the places which are the areas of crimes against humanity,
disasters, and wars.
 It helps people develop some emotions such as fear, excitement, horror, revenge, grief,
curiosity, and empathy.

8. How Dark Tourism Became Popular

The question is, why is dark tourism so popular? Why do we choose to visit places of death and
tragedy? What is it that attracts us to such sorrow? For many, it is purely the possibility of being
able to emotionally absorb oneself in a place of tragedy. It is important for people to engage and
immerse themselves in past history and culture. By visiting dark tourism sites, we are able to
give ourselves time to reflect on history. Dark tourism has close ties with educational tourism.
Particularly in cases of darkest/darker tourism. For many people, this is a dominant, if not their
main, motivation for being a dark tourist. Whilst dark tourism may not be a happy leisure

24
experience, many people enjoy the educational aspect that comes with it. I know that I have
certainly enjoyed visiting famous cemeteries and learning more about WW2 during my travels to
Berlin and Poland. Visitors of dark tourism sites are from a wide socio-demographic group.
Motivations stem from educational purposes, the desire to understand past affairs, etc. Whilst
other motivations stem from the desire to experience something different or new.
Dark tourism is not a new occurrence, it is arguably one of the oldest forms in the history of
tourism. Entertainment by violence and death always attracted many People using the definition
of Seaton in the amphitheaters in ancient Rome were a famous dark tourism destination.
Gladiators entertained the audience by fighting; where they were severely injured or have died
cruelly. Nevertheless, tragic events happen every day all over the world. Consequently, dark
tourism Places to visit are increasing daily and that raises the question whether or not it is
ethically.
Dark tourism is the youngest subset of tourism, introduced only in the 1990s. It is a multifaceted
and diverse phenomenon. As a general concept, black tourism includes tourism, black point
tourism, morbid tourism, disaster tourism, conflict tourism, dissonant heritage tourism, and
others.
As stated by Seaton, there are five possible types of dark travel activity:
1. To witness public enactments of death;
2. To witness re-enactments of death;
3. Travelling to sites of individual or mass deaths;
4. To see symbolic representations of death;
5. Travelling to memorials or internment sites;

9. Types of Dark Tourism

Dark tourism has several sub categories, which define a specific kind of travel within the main
subject, such as war tourism, grief tourism, slum tourism, suicide tourism, doomsday tourism.
Even the traveler itself can be classified into different kind of dark tourists as it was stated by
Cooke and Dickson in 2006.The authors presented a classification based on five categories that
classify the dark tourist:
- Opaque
- Dark
- Die-hard dark
Some distinct subcategories that I believe can be discerned include:
– Grave tourism
– Holocaust tourism
– Genocide tourism
– Cold War & Iron Curtain tourism
– Nuclear tourism
– Disaster area tourism

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10. Dark Tourism Sites around the World

Auschwitz-Birkenau
Auschwitz, the area where the Jews living in Europe were massacred between 1942 and 1945, is
known as a concentration camp where one and a half million people were killed in gas chambers.
Auschwitz concentration camp, which stands out with dark tourism, has become an open-air
museum and is visited as the universal symbol of evil. The ruins of the Auschwitz-Birkenau
camp, which incorporates a social, cultural, and political hybrid process, reflect the abstract and
esoteric symbol of 17.000 tombstones. Auschwitz gained popularity in the 1990s as one of the
most common symbols of Nazi atrocities and became a sacred place of pilgrimage for many in
the Jewish diaspora. By the end of the 1990s, it became an area where the terrible events in
history were commercialized and commoditized.

Chernobyl
On April 26, 1986, during the shutdown of the reactor at the nuclear power plant in the Soviet
Socialist Republic of Ukraine, now known as Ukraine, a massive energy surge occurred, and a
ship exploded. Radioactive fallout, which covered large parts of northern Europe, caused many
health problems. The area contaminated with radioactive substances was designated as the
Chernobyl Exclusion Zone and covered an area of 30 km. One hundred eighty villages under
military control are visited by visitors within the scope of dark tourism for adventure and to feel
the experience experienced by the local people. Visits to Chernobyl were illegal at first; later, the
Ukrainian government made them legal. In Chernobyl, visitors investigate the reactor that
exploded, conduct trips to the forest, and visit physical and chemical laboratory centers. This
area, which is both real and imaginary, is visited by visitors as an area of political failure.

Berlin
Berlin was the capital of the socialist single party regime of the former GDR. Now it is referred
to the as ‘fall of the Berlin Wall’. Berlin is home to a number of Holocaust and WW2 exhibitions
and is popular with educational tourists. I took a student group there a few years ago and I would
definitely recommend it for anybody studying tourism or history.

Gallipoli
In Gallipoli, which had an important place in World War I, III Corps of the Ottoman Army was
headquartered. Due to its proximity to the Çanakkale Front, this region suffered and had dark
days during the war. Gallipoli, one of the most important regions affecting the course of World
War I, is an area visited by many Australian visitors on April 25 to commemorate their ancestors.
The Australian and New Zealand Army Corps [A & NZAC] are known as the "Anzacs". Despite
the ups and downs in numbers over the years, it is observed that the number of Australian
visitors has increased especially after 2000. Following the decrease in 2003, the number of
visitors increased again. This can be attributed to visitors' commitment to their culture past.

26
11. Dark Tourism Sites in Bangladesh

A country between the Indian subcontinent and South-East Asia, almost completely surrounded
by India, except for a bit over 100 miles of direct border with Myanmar/Burma to the east. The
name Bangladesh tends to trigger images of floods and famine in many western minds, and
indeed the densely populated country is prone to both. Its vast low-lying coastal areas are also
particularly threatened by climate change and the expected rising of the oceans' sea levels.
However, the country is mentioned here for a Liberation War Museum in the capital Dhaka
which relates to the historical events of 1971:
Originally part of the British colonial empire, the area of today's Bangladesh separated from
India together with Pakistan, whose eastern part it became, despite being physically separated
from West Pakistan by well over a thousand miles, on the grounds of being, like Pakistan,
predominantly Muslim (while India is predominantly Hindu). However, economic, linguistic and
cultural differences led to tensions, esp. as fertile Bangladesh's surplus was funneled into West
Pakistan, and financed the ongoing conflict with India over Kashmir. Matters got worse in 1970
when East Pakistan was devastated by a cyclone to which the West Pakistani government didn't
respond adequately. When a candidate from the Bengali-speaking Awami movement of East
Pakistan won the general elections in 1970, West Pakistan refused to accept this and East
Pakistan soon found itself under occupation and suppression by a military regime that ruthlessly
sought to exterminate the Bengali elite and intelligentsia. The Awami movement fled into exile.
Between March and December 1971, an estimated one to three million Bengali civilians were
massacred and hundreds of thousands of women raped. (Insofar as ethnicity played a role and the
perpetrators were a de facto foreign army, this is sometimes referred to as a genocide). As a
consequence, some 10 million Bengali refugees flooded into India during the ensuing conflict in
what later became known as the Bangladesh Liberation War.
The untold story of Bangladesh’s Independence, which lasted for a period of nine months, could
well turn out to be one of the major tourism products of the country. The tourism ministry is
currently focusing on that aspect: trained story-tellers are required along with relevant initiatives
for the project. However, the necessary facilities for tourists have not yet been put in place yet.
People evince keen interest in the history of independence of countries or their nationalistic
movements, genocide, the history of their revolutions and achievements in wars. Asian countries
like Japan and Vietnam have been able to make their historical war sites some of their most
popular tourism destinations. The most visited dark tourism sites are;
 Dhanmondi 32 (House of Bangabandhu)
 Rayerbazar Boddhobhumi
 Liberation War Museum, Dhaka
 Central Shaheed Minar
 War cemetery (Comilla & Chattagram)
 Mirpur jalladkhana,
 Racecourse Maidan,

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  National Memorial,
 Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban,
 Jamalpur Front War,
 Chittagong’s Operation Jackpot
 Kalurghat Radio station

12. Social and Economic Prospects of dark tourism

Dark tourism has become an important branch of the tourism industry. Tourists are progressively
being attracted to dark tourism sites. Dark tourism can have positive impact on both the tourists
and the locals. There are number of benefits associated with dark tourism which include
increased tourism revenue, income generation improving the infrastructure as wells as emotional
and psychological benefit. Socially, dark tourism provides psychological and emotional benefits
to local communities. In addition to that dark tourism can be used for learning and reflection on
issues that contributed to catastrophe especially for future generations. In addition to that dark
helps in raising awareness of horrific events in the past and in the process guides communities to
understand the communities they live in (Daams, 2007).

Economically, dark tourism enables communities to enjoy economic benefits such as revenue
generation from sites which are located in the areas which did not have much tourism potential
because of geographical limitations (Kumar Singh and Shekhar, October, 2018). Tourism
revenue can also be used for suffering communities to recover from catastrophic situation
through building rehabilitation centres.

13. Problems
Lack of knowledge as the main reason for restricted growth of dark tourism in Bangladesh. This
lack of know edge is due to lack of research about the topic and also because of lack of interest
shown by the stakeholders in developing it as a proper tourism product. Other major reasons
were: lack of promotion by the government, which is a major attribute to the lack of knowledge
among people, and psychology of Bangladeshi to stay away from place of death. This lack of
interest to visit such places is attributed to human psychology to avoid pain and death. Als, lack
of infrastructure development at such places also limits the flow of tourist to such place. Lack of
infrastructure might also be because of lack of demand, so if demand increases infrastructure can
be developed and maintained easily.

28
14. Suggestions
Destination incubation

New artificial destinations must be prepared or built from scratch to promote dark tourism.
Destinations which have ruined over the years or because of some calamity in recent years
should be prepared artificially to give same experience to the tourists. The policy makers should
identify the destinations, which are raw, unexplored and can be developed int proper dark
tourism destinations. Then commercial potential of these destinations should be sought. If
everything is favorable, then plans should be made to fully develop and promote dark tourism in
these areas.

Making destination market ready

To ensure that these destinations perform at least as good as the other Nic tourism sectors in the
area, required amenities and facilities must be provided. Locals who have: knowledge about the
place should be trained to become the guides. This way the problem of unemployment in the
country could be addressed. Also, as the place is being branded as a da 'k tourism destination,
markets should reflect the incident or tragedy which has happened at that p ace. Artefacts,
images, paintings should depict the trauma that was caused and should appeal on the emotions of
the tourists.
Promoting dark tourism among domestic and local tourist

As emotions play a vital role in Dark Tourism, authorities can promote dirk tourism among the
communities and locals whose ancestors were affected during the tragedy. It will be one of the
ways to ensure that sufficient numbers of tourists visit the destination and infrastructural
development could be carried out in the destination. It would also help in solving the "tourist
infrastructure" dilemma, which every under developed destination faces. Schools and colleges
should be instructed in the area to have at least one visit to such places for educational purpose.
More focus should be on inviting domestic tourists rather than foreign tourists to such places.

Effective use of destination branding

The biggest hindrance in promotion of Dark Tourism in the moral and ethical dilemma
associated with selling of death. How to market death is one of the major issues which
authorities have faced and it has compelled them to avoid including it in the key areas of tourism.
With the use of effective brand positioning, this problem can be solved. Firstly, an image should
be created for the destination and then that image should be effectively communicated to the
desired audiences. Commercials used should be intriguing and should appeal to one's emotions.
Advertising should not be such that it causes trauma or makes audience believe that they are
getting emotionally exploited.

29
Apart from these measures that as per them would help in development of dark tourism in
Bangladesh. As this concept is relatively new, not many states have promoted this type of
tourism. Some states can take first mover advantage by developing dark tourism and attracting
more tourists. For this, they need to identify the dark tourism sites in their state, develop a basic
infrastructure near it, and develop an effective marketing programmed to promote the place.
Information about dark tourism sites and is importance should be spread by government with the
help of educational institutions. Feeling of nationalism and patriotism could be promoted with
the use of dark tourism. Sites such as Wagha border, Hotel Taj can be used for this purpose.
Social media or digital innovations might play an important role in promotion of dark tourism in
Bangladesh. Social media should be used to advertise about destination. Documentaries, short
films could be developed to spread the information as well as ignite the urge to visit such places.

15. Conclusion

Thus, it can be concluded that Dark Tourism is much unknown among the Bangladeshi tourists.
This is mainly because of lack of desire of the authorities to develop strategies for promotion of
dark tourism in the country. India has destinations as well as infrastructure to support dark
tourism. Also, people acknowledge that this type of tourism has potential to be successful. This
is very important for policymakers as optimistic view of tourists is necessary for the same. What
is required is a long term plan or a vision through which Dark tourism could be incorporated as
one of the emerging niche tourism trend in the country. Following are the few suggestions which
the authorities may consider for development of Dark Tourism in the country
Dark tourism is an interesting concept that has reaped increased attention from both academics
and the public in recent years. Whether you are visiting a cemetery, taking part in a zombie race
or providing relief after a natural disaster, the opportunities to take part in dark tourism activities
are far ranging.
It is fairly clear that there are a number of different types of tourism that all fall under the
umbrella of dark tourism. And with the different types of dark tourism, comes a variety of
different tourist motivations to visit. However, despite the different motivations, there are still
unresolved ethical concerns that need addressing. From inappropriate selfies to taking photos of
people who are grieving, there are differing opinions on whether dark tourism is right or wrong.

30
 Eco-tourism practice on Hatia

1. Introduction

Eco tourism typically involves travel to destinations where flora, fauna and cultural heritages are
the primary attractions. Eco tourism is intended to offer tourist and an insight into the impact of
human beings on the environment and to foster a greater appreciation of our natural habitats.

In Bangladesh, travelers prefer natural location since outdoor activities such as hiking, walking,
wildlife viewing, boat riding, kayaking and fishing can be carried out efficiently in natural
environments. Eco-conscious travelers favour Green accommodation and so are offered with
different eco-friendly options ranging from various budgets in Bangladesh.

Hatiya Island can be an example for eco-tourism. Hatiya Island is an island in the Northern Bay
of Bengal Bangladesh at the mouth of the Meghna River. The island falls under Hatiya upazila of
Noakhali district the island has an area of 480 km a square. A beautiful and Small Island Swarno
deep located near Hatiya could be a Singapore of Bangladesh. This indicates that beautiful
Swarno Deep and other islands in the Meghna could be utilized as paradise of the sea and an
ideal of land reclamation beautification and Eco tourism project. Nijhum Dwip Island under the
Hatiya upazila is also an eco-tourism spot.

2. Literature review

Bangladesh government reformed the national tourism policy in 2010.Aims and goals of this
policy is to increase employment, ensure economic development, environmental purity and
sustainability (Siraj at all 2009).The major objective of the policy is to develop eco-tourism
through conservation of natural resources and promote wellbeing of the community, preservation
of cultural values of the of the local community and their participation and sharing benefits.
Ecotourism involves responsible traveling to fragile, pristine and mostly protected areas. This
takes place for different purposes, from educating the traveler, fostering respect for different
cultures to directly benefiting the economic and political empowerment of local communities
(Garana, 2008). Ideally, ecotourism incorporates the following criteria; promote biological and
cultural diversity, touring unspoiled natural habitats, and the main attractions being local culture,
flora and fauna. In short, ecotourism operations are defined by their commitment to the
environment, education, nature and culture. The main objectives of ecotourism are providing
nature-based, environmental education experiences for visitors and managing this in a
sustainable manner (Badan & Bhatt, 2005).

31
3. Sources of Data

The study was conducted mainly on the basis of secondary data. The secondary data collected
from some journals, articles, booklets and published materials, Internet, some statistical
information, newspapers and other related materials, these were consulted and used as
references. Thus, secondary data provides the guideline to create blue print of the research &
study.

4. Research Methodology

The study investigates the eco-tourism practice in Hatiya that could help to foster the eco-
tourism sector in Bangladesh. Many countries of the world are now trying to achieve more gain
by reaching the target set by WTO through following the SDG 17. The expansion of the tourism
throughout the world has increased competition among the tourist destinations, trying to attract
more tourists by adopting appropriate strategies. To accomplish any study, it is necessary to
collect data and information, processed tabulated and analyzed carefully. It has been prepared in
present form to make the study more informative and useful. There are several objectives to
conduct this research. They are:

1. To know about the current status and future prospects of eco-tourism sector in Hatiya.

2. To identify the major tourist attraction spots in Hatiya.

3. To assess the contribution of eco-tourism sector in the Hatiya’s local economy.

4. To identify the barriers for developing eco-tourism sector in Hatiya.

5. To provide some suggestions for the improvements of eco-tourism in Hatiya.

32
 Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent
Valid Fazlul 1 4.8 4.8 4.8
Harunur Rashid 1 4.8 4.8 9.5
Hasan 1 4.8 4.8 14.3
Jewel 1 4.8 4.8 19.0
Klasis 1 4.8 4.8 23.8
Mahmud 1 4.8 4.8 28.6
Maksuda 1 4.8 4.8 33.3
Mohin Ul Islam 1 4.8 4.8 38.1
Nadim 1 4.8 4.8 42.9
Naeem 1 4.8 4.8 47.6
Noman 1 4.8 4.8 52.4
Noyon 1 4.8 4.8 57.1
Nur Sultana 1 4.8 4.8 61.9
Rasel 1 4.8 4.8 66.7
Rashed 1 4.8 4.8 71.4
Rima 1 4.8 4.8 76.2
s. chakma 1 4.8 4.8 81.0
Sakib 1 4.8 4.8 85.7
Shamima 1 4.8 4.8 90.5
Sobuj 1 4.8 4.8 95.2
Sohel 1 4.8 4.8 100.0
Total 21 100.0 100.0
5. Data Analysis

The data is collected from 25 persons. Where 15 people are students and 10 peoples is another
occupation without student. In the above table show that the frequency, the percentage and also
the cumulative percentage.

33
The above table show that the statistical analysis of the respondents. The table also shows the
mean, median, mode of the respondents, by which we know the satisfaction level of these
respondents.

34
6. Definition

Eco-tourism is a new form of tourism that has developed very fast in the last 15 years. There are
many forms of tourism recently developed, but eco-tourism has been found most popular and
acceptable to many countries. IUCN ascertain Eco-tourism as `Environmentally responsible
travel to undisturbed natural areas to enjoy and appreciate nature that promotes conservation and
provides benefit to the local community through active socio economic involvement.' The
international Eco-tourism Society (TIES) defined eco-tourism as `Responsible travel to nature
areas that conserves the environment and sustains the wellbeing of local people.' Now-a-days
there are many other terms of eco-tourism are being used. Such as `soft tourism', `green tourism',
`nature tourism', `low impact tourism' etc. According to the UNWTO's
definition, 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:

7. Principles of Ecotourism

Ecotourism is about uniting conservation, communities, and sustainable travel. This means that
those who implement, participate in and market ecotourism activities should adopt the following
ecotourism principles:

 Minimize physical, social, behavioral, and psychological impacts.

 Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect.

 Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts.

 Provide direct financial benefits for conservation.

35
  Generate financial benefits for both local people and private industry.

 Deliver memorable interpretative experiences to visitors that help raise sensitivity to host
countries’ political, environmental, and social climates.

 Design, construct and operate low-impact facilities.

 Recognize the rights and spiritual beliefs of the Indigenous People in your community
and work in partnership with them to create empowerment.

8. Ecotourism in Bangladesh

Bangladesh is a country filled with natural wonders and untouched reserves and home to a
variety of unique and magnificent creatures. With hills, valleys, forests, beaches, lakes and
rivers, ecotourism in Bangladesh is ideal. Although this is still a relatively new form of tourism
in Bangladesh, ecotourism is increasing in popularity as more people come to appreciate the
stunning landscapes, fascinating wildlife and biodiversity of plants found in this beautiful
country.

Bangladesh boasts to having the world’s biggest mangrove forest ecosystem, expansive pristine
beach, impressive Hilly Districts (Khagrachari, Rangamati and Bandarban), a massive marine
world and the largest lake built by man. Certainly with these vital ecosystems contribute greatly
to Bangladesh’s ecotourism potential. Bangladesh is putting in order measures to integrate
ecotourism resources. It is important that when ecotourism is being promoted in the country, the
environment does not become over-exploited or damaged. Thus sustainable development needs
to be followed. Ecotourism helps in environment and wildlife conservation, economic
development and creates employment opportunities. It is increasing in popularity in Bangladesh
because more people travel hereto acknowledge the country's topography, flora, and fauna. It
may be necessary to control the number of tourists permitted in a particular area. To implement
the ecotourism facilities, strict policy-making, proper planning, monitoring and evaluation of the
applied strategies are essential.

9. Overview of Hatiya Island

Hatiya Islands, a cluster of islands situated in the Meghna estuary of the Padma River
(Ganges [Ganga] River) delta, southeastern Bangladesh. Its area is 2100 square kilometers.
Subarnachar Upazila is to the north and Ramgati Upazila to the North West, Bay of Bengal to the
South and East, and Manpura Upazila to the West. Hatiya upazila consists of 11 union parishads
and Hatiya city area consists of 3 mauzas. Its total area is 25.72 square kilometers. Due to the
destruction of nature in Hatiya in the face of the tremendous force of the huge waters of furious
Meghna and Bay of Bengal, there are no remains of 100 to 150 years old.

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10. Destination of Eco Tourism in Hatiya

In Hatiya eco-tourism flourishes on Nijhum Dwip (Silent Island') which is a small island under
Hatiya Upazila of Noakhali District. It is a cluster of islands that emerged in the early 1950s.
This island's distinct natural phenomena make Hatiya one of the potent eco-tourism destination
of the country. The main attraction is the herd of about 5000 cheetal or spotted deer, monkeys, a
huge number of mated birds come in the winter season, enhancing the beauty of this island. Now
this island has been declared as the unique eco-tourist spot. During winter, thousands of
migratory birds flock into the island. In 1974 the Forest Department took an afforestation
program for a duration of twenty years on the north side of the island. Covering an area of nine
thousand acres, it has now developed into a deep forest with a variety of plant species. Among
the trees, Keora is much seen. Besides this Gewa, Kankra, Bain, Babul, Karamja, Pashur, and
many other species are seen.

On 8 April 2001, the government declared the 40,390 acres (16,345 ha) of the forest of
Jahajmara range including 9,550 acres (3,865 ha) of forest land on Nijhum Dwip as a National
Park for the protection and development of the biodiversity of the forest. But in practice, there a
very lazy appearance of that declaration. It was named 'Nijhum Dwip' by former Minister Amirul
Islam Kalam in 1975 observing its isolation and mild nature.

11. Impact of Eco Tourism in Hatiya

Economic and social impacts of tourism in islands

The prevalence of the tourism industry has presented a mixture of positive and negative impacts
on island communities. It is undeniable that tourism creates a significantly positive contribution
to GDP, as well as employment opportunities. This can be used as a foundation upon which to
achieve greater economic diversity, which then leads to an improved standard of living Generally
speaking, some of the negative impacts which occur, do so as a result of there being an over-
dependence on tourism as a main source of economic growth. This overdependence can lead to
the neglect of other vital sectors, such as agriculture and manufacturing. Also, if tourism is
predominantly seasonal, this produces an economic disparity during off-season. This
phenomenon of seasonality causes there to be a fluctuation in the number of visitors to particular
destinations, with a corresponding fluctuation in the disposable income that can be used to
purchase local goods.

The presence of tourists may also inculcate social divisions between visitors and the local
population, as many jobs for local people in the tourist industry are in the service industry, such
as housekeepers, waiters, butlers, or gardeners. Often, visitors tend to have greater economic
resources than the inhabitants of their chosen destination, which can create some social tension.

Environmental impact of tourism facilities

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Tourism development usually involves the construction of hotels, resorts and other amenities
catered to tourists. This may result in a scarcity of land, and the exclusion of the local population
from Lagoon areas.

Often, coastal areas are seen as most attractive to tourists who wish to experience an island’s
natural beauty. Construction along coastlines, without comprehensive consideration of
environmental impacts, results in the destruction and degradation of coastal ecosystems. Other
negative effects include soil erosion, changes in water runoff, and potential storm damage
because of their exposed location. Additionally, water scarcity is further exacerbated when golf
courses are built on, and irrigation systems are prioritized for the maintenance of these spaces.

The presence of Hotels also produces a strain on waste management facilities because the
sewage from large hotels can be a source of pollution if it is not treated and disposed of properly.
While most hotel chains include wastewater treatment plants, these can be difficult to maintain in
the islands and need to be monitored regularly. The production of solid waste can also add to the
existing solid waste disposal problems on many islands.

12. Prospects and Challenges of Eco Tourism in Hatiya

The international ecotourism society is a major promotor of ecotourism throughout the world and
defines it as a responsible journey to natural areas that improves the well-being of local people
and conserves the environment. Many countries have developed their principles to manage and
distinguish ecotourism from other types of tourism. The ecotourism system exercises tremendous
financial and political influence. Ecotourism provides the opportunity for tourists to learn more
about the ecosystems, biology, and geology of a specific location. Knowing the components of
an ecosystem can lead to a better understanding of how to conserve natural formations.
Ecotourism provides an impactful firsthand experience about sustainable living and eco-friendly
practices.

The impacts of ecotourism on the environment are diverse, as these also reflect visitors’
activities and behavior. Certain research showed that the response of wildlife appears to be
dependent upon the particular behavior of tourists who have contact with wildlife. Cases have
demonstrated differential impacts to plant and animal species with some species exhibiting high
sensitivity and others showing low sensitivity to tourist presence.

Tourists of Bangladesh are anxious about food, disease, language barriers, safety and security etc.
Communication infrastructure has become one of the prime issues recently. If tourists are not comfortable
in their journey, they will lose interest in travelling.This issue can damage our tourism industry, which
would be a significant setback since it has become a major driver of economic growth.

13.Conclusion

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Eco-tourism has expanded fast and in a revolutionary way. Due to tourism’s strong role in the
nations and economies of the world, the need for tourism research is crucial. The movement
towards ecotourism in India is at once a threat and an opportunity to create more sustainable
tourism. By diverting tourist traffic to ensure that the carrying capacity of any destination is
not exceeded by planning for regeneration of natural resources, and by generating awareness
in the host community whereby they are prepared to deal with the negative impact of mass
tourism are the ways of attaining sustainability.

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