Cox's Bazar, the longest beach town, is now panting in the heat. Although the temperature reaches 35 to 36 degrees Celsius, the perceived temperature seems higher due to the high humidity in the air. In such a situation, there is increasing concern in the various sectors of the tourism-dependent economy, including public life.
It can be seen on the ground on Thursday (June 4) afternoon that the presence of tourists in the main tourist spots of Cox's Bazar during the day is relatively less. Many tourists are staying in hotels in Labani, Sugandha and Kalatali beach areas due to the sun and heat after noon, as a result the normal activity in beach-centric small businesses and services is somewhat less.
Businessmen said that if the heat wave lasts for a long time, apart from the decrease in the number of tourists, hotel-motel, restaurant, transportation, beach-centered small business and entertainment sector may face significant financial losses.
A large part of the economy of Cox's Bazar is dependent on the tourism sector. Millions of tourists come here every year to enjoy the beach. Due to excessive heat, many tourists did not feel comfortable to roam around the beaches, tourist centers or open spaces during the day.
According to tourism officials, the hotel and resort sector may come under the most pressure due to extreme heat. When the number of tourists decreases, the demand for room rentals decreases. For those who stay, the air conditioning system has to be kept on all the time. This increases the cost of electricity significantly.
Impact of heat on tourism-based retail businesses:
Shops selling clothes, gifts, cosmetics and local products in tourist areas are largely dependent on tourists. When tourists decrease, their sales also decrease. Seasonal traders are particularly affected.
Mohammad Ayat Ullah, the owner of a gift shop in Sugandha beach area, said, “Though there are tourists, many do not visit the shop during the day because of the intense heat. There is not much sales in the afternoon and early evening. This has reduced the daily sales compared to before.”
Shopkeepers have covered the shop with cloth to avoid the heat of the sun
Shaheen Alam, a seller of oysters and handicrafts at Sugandha Point, said, “Our business is completely dependent on tourists. Due to the heat, there are less customers in the shop. Sometimes even after sitting all day, the sales are not as expected.”
Aman Ullah, owner of the Food Hotel, said, “When tourism decreases, demand for food decreases. Fish, meat, dairy products and perishable food items incur additional costs. Due to increased electricity consumption, business costs also increase.”
Businessman Sirajul Kabir said, “Many of the tourists stay in hotel rooms to avoid the sun. They come to the beach after evening. This brings business to a standstill for a large part of the day.”
Restaurant owner Shafiqur Rahman Nayan said, “When the presence of tourists decreases, the amount of food sold decreases, but the fixed costs have to be borne properly.”
Small businesses hit by heat:
Beach-based small businesses are also at risk of damage due to extreme heat. Oyster and handicraft sellers, dab and soft drink sellers, horse handlers, beach bike traders, photographers and temporary shopkeepers in Labani, Sugandha, Kalatali and Sea-Gal Point areas are directly affected by the drop in tourist arrivals.
Rubel Hossain, a small businessman in Kalatali area, said, “If the number of tourists decreases a little, the business will be affected. Now because of the heat, many people are not going out. Due to the decrease in sales, I am worried about the rent of the shop and the salary of the employees.”
Zaker Hossain, a small businessman who sells dabs in the beach area, said, “In summer, people eat more dabs, but when the sun is high, there are fewer people on the beach. Therefore, sales are not as expected. If there are no tourists, our income also decreases.”
Impact of heat also on transport sector:
Every day a large number of tourists come to Cox's Bazar from different parts of the country including Dhaka, Chittagong. If the travel trend decreases, it is expected that the number of passengers of long-distance buses, tourist microbuses and other transport services will decrease. At the same time, the demand for TomToms, CNG-powered auto-rickshaws, battery-powered vehicles and rental-based vehicles is also decreasing within the city.
Hotel-motel neighborhood of Cox's Bazar city
Mohammad Shahab Uddin, a CNG-powered autorickshaw driver of Kalatali area, said, “In the hot summer, tourists are not going out during the day like before. Especially in the afternoon, there are very few passengers. Even after the evening, the crowd increases a little, but the deficit for the whole day is not met.”
Tapan, a tourist jeep driver in the Sugandha Point area, said, “Many tourists now stay in hotels during the day. Earlier, there were more bookings to go to Inani, Himachari or Marine Drive in the morning. After the heat has increased, the number has reduced.”
Tomtom driver Nurul Amin said, “It has become difficult to stand on the road in summer. Due to fewer passengers, the income has also decreased. It is not possible to save like before by meeting daily expenses.”
Abu Salam, another tomtom driver, said, “There are very few passengers on the road during the day. As a result, the income has decreased, it is becoming difficult to run a family.”
President of Cox's Bazar Hotel-Motel Guest House Owners Association, Abul Kashem Sikdar said, “The number of tourists in Cox's Bazar has decreased slightly due to the end of Eid holidays and excessive heat. Many people are not going out to the beach during the day due to intense sun, as a result, there has been a temporary slowdown in the hotel and tourism sector. We hope that tourists will come again when the weather is normal.”
Tourism workers suffer from heat:
Beach cleaners, van drivers, porters, temporary vendors and other service workers work long hours under the open sky. In addition to reducing their performance in excess heat, health risks also increase. As a result, there is a negative impact on income.
Laila Begum, a beach cleaner, said, “One has to work in the sun from morning to afternoon. The body gets tired very quickly in the heat. It is not possible to keep up the pace of work as before.”
Mohammad Yunus, a coolie worker in Ghun Gachtala area of ​​the city, said, “We have to carry heavy goods, but in this heat the body becomes very weak. It is difficult to work, the income has also decreased.”
Abu Morshed Chowdhury Khoka, former president of Cox's Bazar Chamber of Commerce and Industries, said, “Weather is an important issue in a sea-based tourist city like Cox's Bazar. If the heat lasts for a long time, there is a risk of reducing the overall income of the tourism sector. Therefore, it is necessary to increase shaded resting places in the beach area, ensure the supply of fresh water, and take initiatives to carry out health awareness campaigns for tourists.”
ANM Helal Uddin, president of Cox's Bazar Citizen Forum, said, “Thousands of people are directly and indirectly involved in the tourism economy of Cox's Bazar. Therefore, if the temperature rises further, its impact will not be limited to business establishments, but will also affect the livelihood of small entrepreneurs, working people and many families who depend on tourism. As a result, this hot situation is an important challenge for the tourism economy.”
Due to high temperature and humidity, problems like heat exhaustion, dehydration, dizziness, weakness and heat stroke can occur, said doctors.
Cox's Bazar Medical College Assistant Professor Dr. Md. Shaheen Abdur Rahman Chowdhury said, “Staying in extreme heat for a long time or working hard in hot weather can lead to heatstroke. So drink plenty of water, avoid direct sunlight and avoid heavy work during the hottest part of the day.”
He said, “Anyone suffering from heatstroke should be taken to a cool place quickly, cooling of the body should be done and emergency medical care should be ensured. It can be fatal if not treated quickly.”
Dr. Shaheen said, “Heatstroke is a life-threatening emergency. Heatstroke can occur when the body temperature rises to 40 degrees Celsius or more and the body cannot regulate heat normally. It can damage vital organs like the brain, heart and kidneys.”
He said, “Severe headache, dizziness, confusion, vomiting, rapid heartbeat and shortness of breath are the main symptoms of heatstroke. Many cases are preceded by symptoms of heat exhaustion such as excessive sweating, weakness and dizziness.”
Assistant Meteorologist of Cox's Bazar Meteorological Department. Abdul Hannan said, “The maximum temperature in Cox's Bazar has been fluctuating between 35 and 36 degrees Celsius for the past few days. At the same time, the feeling of heat is increasing as the amount of water vapor in the air is 65 to 70 percent.”
He said, “The amount of clouds in the sky is slowly increasing. Due to this, there is a possibility of frequent rains over the country for the next few days, which may help bring down the temperature a bit.”
