Bangladesh’s only coral island, Saint Martin’s, will officially reopen to tourists from 1 November, with a daily cap of 2,000 visitors, according to government officials.
The announcement was made on Thursday, 25 September, during a press conference at the Secretariat, held in observance of World Tourism Day. The briefing was led by Sheikh Bashir Uddin, Adviser on Civil Aviation and Tourism.
The adviser explained that the tourism season for Saint Martin’s will begin in November 2025 and continue until February 2026. However, restrictions will vary by month.
| Month | Access Rules | Overnight Stay Allowed? |
| November | Daytime visits only | ❌ |
| December | Daytime visits only | ❌ |
| January | Full access | ✅ |
| February | Full access | ✅ |
Sheikh Bashir Uddin stated: “From 1 November to February, Saint Martin’s will remain open to tourists. A maximum of 2,000 tourists will be allowed per day. A software system has been developed to regulate visitor entry. This will operate through registration and will be integrated with transport management.”
Earlier, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change formed a joint committee to oversee travel control to Saint Martin’s and regulate authorised vessels. The committee mandated that tourists would need to register and comply with specific conditions to visit the island.
Despite these measures, the interim government had suspended all tourist activity on the island for nine months, citing ecological preservation concerns.
The reopening, with strict visitor limits and registration systems, reflects an effort to balance tourism opportunities with the environmental protection of Bangladesh’s only coral island.
