Saifunnahar Sumi
Country's hotel and resort operators say they are expecting a booming business during the coming Eid ul-Fitr vacation as they received nearly 100 percent bookings.
Local and foreign travelers who also come to Bangladesh to have a feel of the Eid mood prefer to visit prime tourist areas such as Cox's Bazar, Rangamati, Bandarban and Sylhet.
The businesses expect the number of tourists to double during the Eid holidays compared to last year's, largely due to political stability in the country. Hotels, motels and guesthouses in the beach city (Cox's Bazar) have bookings for 99 percent of the rooms for July 17 to July 23.
The tour operators announced different tour packages two months ago, targeting bumper business during the Eid vacation.
The Airlines, too, are expecting huge business as a growing number of middle and high income people prefer to celebrate Eid vacation abroad.
"Upper class tourists do not feel comfortable to celebrate Eid vacation in the country partly due to infrastructure problems, that make travel cumbersome and more time consuming," said Tofazzal Hossain Tofa, Assistant Manager of A to Z Air Service.
While they fly out, many foreign tourists come to Bangladesh to enjoy the country's natural beauties at lucrative spots and see the Eid festivities in one of the world's biggest Muslim countries.
A 15-member team of photographers is coming from China on July 15 with plans to visit Chittagong Hill Tracts and Sylhet, said Taufiq Rahman, Chief Executive of Journey Plus.
However, the airlines have raised ticket price for Eid time tourists going to Thailand, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Nepal and Bhutan - though have offered various incentive packages.
The airlines operating on Dhaka- Bangkok, Dhaka- Singapore, Dhaka- Missouri, Dhaka Malaysia and Dhaka- India routes like United Airways, Regent, Emirates, Malaysia, Singapore, Qatar, Air Arabia, Air Asia and Fly Dubai did bumper business from Eid Tourism.
A to Z Air Service's Assistant Manager Tofazzal Hossain Tofa told the Daily Observer that they finished domestic and international ticket selling one month ago for July 16- 23 period.
This year, domestic tourists collected Bangladesh Biman tickets more to avoid road transport and shipping hassles during the Eid. "The airlines now have no domestic ticket available till July 30," Tofazzal said.
Price of International ticket has been raised 3- 4 times compared to normal price, but domestic route price has not been raised.
Biman has added two flights to face the passenger pressure and reduced ticket price for both domestic and international journeys, said Mohammad Shah Newaj, Bangladesh Biman Director (Marketing and sell).  Ticket selling has been finished early as e-ticket is very popular these days, he said.
This year people with families are going less to local tourist destinations due to rainy season and dilapidated roads, Md Masud Hossain, owner of Bengal Tours said.