Experts Say/ Inani resort’s fire shows up weaknesses in tourism infrastructure

Safety and security are essential to quality tourism, but the deadly fire at “Tuptup Resto & Resort” in the Patuartek area of Inani Beach in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, has exposed serious shortcomings in the local administration’s efforts to ensure tourist safety at the country’s premier tourism destination, experts say.

As Bangladesh seeks to promote Cox’s Bazar as an international tourist destination, failure to ensure basic safety standards could undermine visitors’ confidence and damage the country’s tourism image, they said.

The authorities must investigate the incident, establish accountability and ensure that no tourist facility is allowed to operate without meeting mandatory safety requirements, the experts said.

“We are talking about introducing international flights and attracting foreign tourists to Cox’s Bazar. But we are not yet ready if such weaknesses in safety and security persist,” Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Bangladesh Chapter Secretary General Taufiq Rahman told UNB.

He warned that incidents involving negligence and inadequate safety arrangements could quickly draw international media attention and damage the country’s tourism image. “Tourists will naturally question whether a destination is safe before deciding to visit.”

More than almost any other economic activity, tourism depends on a destination’s ability to provide a safe and secure environment for visitors.

Talking to UNB, Cox’s Bazar Hotel-Motel-Resort Owners’ Association General Secretary Mukim Khan said safety and security should receive the highest priority when licences are issued to hotels and resorts.

He said many resorts were operating without proper oversight and warned that such practices should not be allowed to continue. “We have always been told safety should be given the top most priority, while issuing licenses.”

“Hotel authorities cannot avoid responsibility, but the relevant authorities also have a role to play,” he said.

Khan questioned how such an establishment had been allowed to operate without adequate fire safety measures despite the presence of the district administration, fire service and other relevant authorities.

Referring to the incident, he said the resort was built of wood and bamboo, while breakfast was being prepared in the kitchen at the time.

“How was the facility allowed to operate in this condition?” he asked, questioning the monitoring role of the Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner’s office.

“The responsibility lies with everyone concerned. Whoever wants cannot simply establish a property and put tourists’ lives at risk,” he said.

Taufiq also expressed concern over the inactivity of the Beach Management Committee and called for stronger monitoring by tourist police and other relevant agencies.

He said the incident had sent a negative message about Cox’s Bazar, which Bangladesh hopes to develop into a major international tourist destination.

Taufiq stressed that tourists also had a responsibility to assess the safety of accommodation facilities, but the primary responsibility for ensuring compliance with safety standards rested with operators and the relevant authorities.

“We do not want such incidents to happen. Ensuring the safety and security of tourists must be a priority,” he said.

What BNP’s Election Manifesto Says

Despite its vast potential, Bangladesh has yet to emerge as a tourist-friendly country. To popularise, expand and develop the tourism industry and establish Bangladesh as a tourism-friendly nation, the national tourism policy will be updated, according to the BNP’s election manifesto.

The manifesto also pledged to ensure clean and healthy accommodation, along with safe and comfortable travel for domestic and international tourists.

It said tourism-friendly laws would be enacted to facilitate the integrated and planned development of the sector. A sufficient number of skilled and capable tourist police would also be deployed to ensure the safety of visitors.

Marking World Tourism Day in September this year, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman expressed hope that the successful implementation of various government initiatives would enable the tourism sector to contribute significantly to the national goal of building a US$1 trillion economy by 2034.

Operating Without Fire Safety Licence

Tuptup Resto & Resort was operating without a fire safety licence despite receiving an official warning four months earlier.

Director General of the Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) Brig Gen Sultanul Afreen Junaid told the media that an FSCD inspector had visited the resort in June and served a formal notice on June 11, identifying the structure as “hazardous”.

“Despite our inspector visiting the site in June, warning them that the building was risky, and serving a notice, they paid little heed to it and kept the business running,” Brig Gen Junaid said. “Directly speaking, they were operating the resort without permission.”

An inspection found that the resort had faulty documentation, lacked adequate fire extinguishers and had no proper fire fighting arrangements in place.

Ministry’s Directives

Following the tragedy, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat directed the Bangladesh Tourism Board to urgently send a team to the site to assess the circumstances surrounding the fire, determine the extent of the damage and provide assistance to tourists.

He instructed the authorities to organise an emergency meeting in coordination with the local administration, law enforcement agencies and tourism sector stakeholders to ensure the overall safety of tourists.

The minister also emphasised the need to implement the recommendations made at the meeting swiftly and called for specialised training for staff at tourist destinations, with support from the Fire Service and Civil Defence.

The training should focus on strengthening fire safety and emergency rescue operations to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Millat expressed deep shock and sorrow over the loss of lives in the devastating fire, extended his condolences to the bereaved families and wished those injured a speedy recovery.

He also urged the relevant authorities to take prompt and effective measures to locate missing individuals and determine the actual cause of the fire.

“Such a tragic accident is deeply painful. It is essential to stand by those affected and for all parties involved in the rescue operations to maintain their coordinated efforts.”

At least 10 people were killed and several others injured when a devastating fire swept through Tuptup Resto & Resort. The fire broke out between 6:30am and 7:30am and rapidly engulfed the three-storey structure, built mainly of wood and bamboo, leaving guests with little time to escape.

"Six of my nieces and nephews have died. I have three sisters, and I am their only brother. Five of my sisters' children have perished, and my eldest niece also lost her child. There were nine of them who had come here for a visit; only three have survived,” Aminul Islam, a resident of Dhaka, told reporters.

Source: UNB