
N-W turbulence impacts mini-Bangla visitor flow
2
Kolkata:
Tourist footfall from Bangladesh
to Kolkata dwindled further this week, with those travelling for medical treatment postponing their visits, according to hotel owners, eatery operators, and small business owners in the mini-Bangladesh area of Marquis Street, Free School Street, and Collin Street.The fresh dip comes in the wake of rising cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan on the northern and western fronts, prompting many tourists to keep their visits on hold, according to local business operators.
Business owners in the area fear that the once-thriving mini-Bangladesh, already crippled by last year's political turmoil in Bangladesh, may now witness a total collapse of business."Hardly any tourists from Bangladesh came to Kolkata this week," said Mohammad Intezar, secretary of the Currency Exchangers Association. "There were a handful of tourists coming for medical purposes. Even they seem to have postponed their visits."Areas like Marquis Street, Free School Street, Collin Street, and Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road, long known as cultural and commercial hubs for Bangladeshi visitors, are witnessing a downturn in business. Streets that would once bustle with Bangladeshi families shopping, dining, and sightseeing now wear a deserted look."Our hotel used to be booked weeks in advance by Bangladeshi families," said Mizanur Rahman, a budget hotel owner on Marquis Street. "Now, we're lucky to have 25 percent occupancy in a week. This is the worst it has ever been."Local eateries, which once tailored their menus to Bangladeshi tastes, wear an empty look during peak hours. "We used to serve 150-200 customers a day, most of them from various places in Bangladesh," said Salim Khan, who runs a restaurant on Collin Street. "Today, we barely see 40 to 50 people."In the past few months, several hotels, eateries, and other businesses shut down. Others pivoted to catering to local clientele. "We were hoping for the situation to improve and tourism to resume. But it seems the situation is taking a turn for the worse," said a hotel owner.
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