Trends

Is the coast clear?

Even though the subcontinent is surrounded by water on three sides, it hasn't been able to develop coastal tourism like it could have, especially its western coastal belt. By Andrea Lopez

According to geographical estimates, the Indian coastline stretches about 5,700 kilometres on the mainland and about 7,500 kilometres including the two island territories. What these figures fail to demonstrate is the immense tourism potential that this translates to. The Western coastal belt of India - Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala - is a haven for the development of coastal tourism. Goa's tourism figures speak for itself, what with the aggressive GoGoa-365 Days campaign and public-private initiatives to develop infrastructure along the coastal belt. In fact, the tourism department has plans to promote 'raindrop tourism' in the state this year through rain festivals and setting up jungle retreats.

Kerala, like Goa, has also been aggressively marketed. According to the chairman of Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC), Phillip Cherian, 60 per cent of foreign travellers express interest in the coastal backwaters. KTDC is now developing an oceanarium and a premium resort along one of the state's beaches. "We are also planning the first marina (a boat basin offering dockage and other service for small craft) in India with a total of 50 yachts," says Cherian. Currently, all initiatives are public sector ventures, but KTDC is exploring public-private initiatives as well.

Maharashtra gets its act together

So, have states like Maharashtra and Karnataka slowed down in developing a brand that will appeal to foreign and domestic travellers? Maharashtra's 720 kilometre-long Konkan Coast is studded with beaches and sea forts in the districts of Ganpatiphule, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Tarkali and other rural areas. It has the potential to become a tourist hotspot if infrastructure is developed and rural tourism is encouraged. For most domestic and international business travellers, Mumbai becomes more of a stopover destination, with people opting to vacation in the neighbouring states of Goa or Kerala. The government of Maharashtra has now expressed keen interest to retain these tourists and is exploring avenues to ferry these travellers to the unexplored areas of the state.

NGO Konkan Paryatan Mahasangh (KPM) is an institution that began with a vision to promote rural tourism along the Konkan coastal belt. Its president, Sanjay Yadavraj, points out that nearly 95 per cent of the population in the Konkan region comprises rural farmers. "Kerala and Goa have both identified and marketed their strengths. If we capitalise on the strengths that the Konkan coast has, and Maharashtra has no dearth of them, we can sell the entire belt," he says. Around 10-15 lakh tourists visited the Konkan region in the year 2006 and KPM expects this number to double. It is promoting tourism in the rural districts of Maharashtra in what may seem like a basic, but extremely productive, way. For the past four years, local farmers have converted their homes into guesthouses, offering visitors services while simultaneously continuing farming. The response, Yadavraj points out, has been outstanding. Better infrastructure, in terms of roads, electricity and basic amenities will go a long way in retaining tourists. KPM is now looking at government intervention to fund its programmes. Says Yadavraj, "We propose Rs 100 crore to get the rural development programme on track. If the number of units used as guesthouses can be developed and the facilities honed, tourist figures will double." KPM currently organises an annual backwater and beach festival that is popular with domestic and international travellers.

Funds flow in

The tourism policy of Maharashtra for the year 2006 proposed the need to maintain forts and other monuments in the coastal regions. In a positive move, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) has received central government funding to go ahead with a coastal development and an eco-tourism plan. Under the 12th finance commission, MTDC received Rs 250 crore to develop tourism within the state for the next four years. It will also receive Rs 62.50 crore every year specifically for the development of coastal and eco-tourism. Since 2006, MTDC has begun developing adventure sports - scuba diving and snorkeling at Tarkarli, and is in the process of setting up a scuba diving training centre. The corporation has already introduced houseboat cruising here on the same lines as backwater cruising in Kerala. The central government had also proposed a special project called the Konkan Riviera plan in 2004, to be completed in three phases, aimed to upgrade infrastructure and amenities in the circuit areas of Ganpatiphule and Ratnagiri. Meanwhile, MTDC's appointed travel agents are playing their part in promoting these hitherto unexplored destinations. Says Abhay Yawalkar, joint director of tourism, MTDC, "The response generated has been good. Properties in the identified areas are being privatised and infrastructure at Ambolim and Vengurla is being improved. MTDC is also trying to develop new resorts while upgrading existing ones in Mahableshwar.”

Karnataka at it too

Karnataka too features in the government's scheme of things. According to TW Sudhakar, director of Indiatourism in Bangalore, the ministry of tourism has sanctioned three projects for the development of the coastal regions of Karnataka (see box). He added that the state government is planning to develop tourism along the National Highway from Mangalore to Karwar. Since coastal Karnataka is a stronghold for Hindu and Jain temples, pilgrimage circuits have been drawn. He adds, "This will be planned taking into consideration the coastal regulation zone regulations."

With inputs from Gayatri Vijaykumar (Bangalore)