Dhaka, Feb. 1 -- Tourist travel to Saint Martin's Island, the country's only coral island in the Bay of Bengal, has been closed for nine consecutive months from February 1 following the end of the tourism season on January 31.

Although the government allowed tourists to visit the island for three months from November to January, tourist arrivals were largely limited to December and January as overnight stays were not permitted in November.News BSS

Hossainul Islam Bahadur, general secretary of the Sea Cruise Operator Owners Association of Bangladesh, said around 117,000 tourists visited Saint Martin during the two-month period.

"The government opened Saint Martin to tourists from November 1 to January 31. However, due to restrictions on...