UNIT 10 ISLAND AND BEACH TOURISM PRODUCT

Structure

10.0 Objectives 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Emergence of Beach and Island Tourism 10.3 Features of Beach and Island Tourism 10.3.1 A Nature based Tourism 10.3.2 Peripheral Attractions 10.4 Beach and Island As Tourist product 10.4.1 Concept of a tourist product 10.4.2 Design of tourist product 10.4.3 Infra-structural Facilities 10.4.4 Marketing 10.4.5 Environmental constraints 10.5 : A Case of Beach Product 10.5.1 Characteristics 10.5.2 Attractions 10.6 Lakshdweep: An Ideal Island Product 10.6.1 Fragile Ecology; Core Attraction 10.6.2 Secondary Attractions 10.6.3 Marketing 10.7 Let Us Sum Up 10.8 Answers

10.0 OBJECTIVES

After reading this unit you will be able to:

• learn about the concept of Beach and Island as tourism product,

• attributes of an ideal Beach and Island as tourist products, and

• highlight the importance and salient features of marketing of Beach and Island as tourist product.

10.1 INTRODUCTION

New trends of lifestyles and a new realisation of the importance of nature and nature based products have greatly contributed to the growth of nature based tourism. Now the natural feature(s) of any locality can be packaged and sold as a product to domestic and overseas tourists. The unit attempts to trace the emergence and growth of beach and Island tourism. It is followed by an explanation of concept of beach and Island as tourism products. The concept of beach and Island as tourism product has been explained with the examples of Jagannath Puri and Kovalam for beach tourism and Lakshdweep as ideal resources for Island tourism product in India.

10.2 EMERGENCE OF BEACH AND ISLAND TOURISM

Oceans and Seas have attracted humankind since ancient past. It has been of special interest for land- locked mainland people, for them beach and Island seems to be the gift of nature. They get amused by the 113 sight of immeasurable water body and want to enjoy and play with this nature’s gift which can not be created artificially. In India Oceans have been revered as god and sight of sea has been considered auspicious. If we look back at events of Ramayana, Lord Ram worshipped Indian Ocean while seeking passage to reach Lanka. Several important places of pilgrimages are located on the banks of Ocean. Of the four most important places of pilgrimages- Dham, three are located on the banks of Oceans, i.e., Dwarka Puri, Jagannath Puri, Rameshwaram. However, the growth of beach and Island as tourism product began in the 18th century. The medicinal property of mineral water available at particular places seems to have encouraged development of beach and Island as tourist product. To further increase the popularity of these tourist spots several other facilities were introduced. Attempts were made to develop these places for non-medicinal visitors also. With the revolution in the means of communications and transportation by the second half of nineteenth century the popularity and accessibility of these places increased remarkably. The improved means of communication and especially transportation the accessibility of these places became possible for round the year. The significance of improved means of transportation on growth of tourism can be gauged by the following example: Accepting the delivery of the first 747 in 1959, the wide-bodied jet which Pan Am had been instrumental in commissioning from the Boeing company. Juan Tripp, Pan Am’s founder and chairman, spoke of the potential impact of international tourism as being more powerful than the atom bomb. Since then, the equivalent of a quarter of the world’s population has travelled abroad and the consequences can be seen in the development of airports, hotels and resorts in most countries of the world. At the same time the changes in the living patterns after the industrial revolution and especially after Second World War can not be overlooked. Increased purchasing power, confinement to urban centres and resultant alienation from nature, greater leisure time, better possibilities of travel and greater number of tourist product have influenced the choice of tourist product. Now tourist wants to explore the exotica of nature, hence greater emphasis be placed on the development of the beach and Island tourism.

10.3 FEATURES OF BEACH AND ISLAND TOURISM

Beach and Island Tourism can be easily classified as nature based tourism providing ample avenues to experience not only the scenic beauty but also the adventures related with the water sports.

10.3.1 A Nature Based Tourism The scenic beauty of Island and Beach is difficult to comprehend and the unhindered view of immense water body provides ample opportunity to enjoy the bounty of nature. Like any other natural feature, the beach and island need careful utilisation of its resources. The fragile ecological balance of beach and island impose severe limitations on not only the quality but also on the number of the tourist a beach or island can and shall accommodate. Any attempt of exploitation of the potential of beach and island as tourism product must address the question of sustainability. Beach makes use of aesthetic and natural features providing benefits of both, land and water resources. With the development of numerous water sports the attraction of beach and island have increased significantly. An added advantage of beach tourism has been that it is affordable both for luxury as well as budget tourists. Simple bathing and swimming facility make it enjoyable even for the low budget tourist, whereas expensive water sports can be utilised by luxury tourists.

10.3.2 Peripheral attractions Beach and island can be developed and sold as a good tourist product only with the development of peripheral attraction. Here peripheral attractions refer to various other activities which can retain the interest of the tourist for longer periods and which can provide necessary break from the monotony of either beach or island. It is important because to sustain the interest of the tourist we need variety. It is 114 more so important as the needs of different members of the same group vary to a greater degree. For example, it is better to have a good market nearby so as to provide the tourist an opportunity to indulge in actual as well as window-shopping. The market can also provide good eating joints. At the same time the feeling of seclusion of beach and island from commercial place should be retained. Further if possible, it is advisable to substantiate any beach or island tourism products with inputs either from cultural heritage, wildlife, museums, artificial gallery, etc. The idea should be to provide a wholesome experience for the tourists. For example Kovalam provides ideal setting: a nearby township of Thiruananthapuram with several historical monuments, museums and historic places of worship. Another very important aspect of ancillary attraction is availability of necessary infra-structural facilities. The better accessibility through road, if possible by railways and air. Better connectivity encourages tourist to visit frequently whereas poor connectivity discourages the tourists to visit any place for the first time or even repeatedly. At the same time better facilities of economic transaction, i.e., banks, etc. will encourage tourist to stay more. The ancillary activities perform an important function of giving better satisfaction for the money spent and leads to greater expenditure by the tourists.

10.4 BEACH AND ISLANDS AS TOURIST PRODUCT

A tourist expects certain facilities at the destination for his/her journey to be comfortable and pleasurable. The important ingredients of a tourist product must take of travel, boarding facilities, food-arrangements, entertainment and attractions. Most of the facilities offered in tourism belong to the service sector, hence require careful handling as these can not be stored for lean period and can not be instantly supplied during peak season.

10.4.1 Concept of Tourist Product As a concept tourist product is the wholesome facilities offered to the tourist. We can say that a tourist expects following facilities at any destination offered as tourist product:

• to be able to visit places of interest, • to be able to make use of time available with him/her and there should be minimal waste of time and have enough time to enjoy place of interest,

• should have proper connectivity with variety of transport so as to avoid hustle of waiting for the transport,

• should have variety of food to enjoy the local cuisine as well as continental, • should get an exposure to the local culture and life style, and • should have enough space to enjoy the nature and surroundings. Above mentioned expectations can be covered by managing the following facilities:

• Infra-structural facilities, • Ancillary facilities, and • Marketing. At the same time the environmental constraints should be taken care of so as to minimise the adverse impacts. The carrying capacity of the area under consideration as a tourist product should be analysed carefully to determine the nature of tourist product can be designed and offered to the tourists.

10.4.2 Design of Tourist Product

115 As you know by now that there are several limitations imposed on tourism as apart of the service sector. However, just to remind you the following attributes of services so as to situate them better in your vision for developing beach and island as tourist product.

• Intangibility, • Inseparability, • Heterogeneity,

• Perishability, and

• Ownership. The most important feature of the services has been the intangibility of the product in tourism. This feature introduces a sense of individuality i.e., every tourist has his own preferences of experiences, thereby, it is difficult to attach universal value to the product in tourism sector. For example, a tourist who enjoys swimming will certainly enjoy visiting beach and island, whereas any tourist who does not enjoy water shall not be very comfortable with the beach and island. Similarly, this class of tourists will not be able to enjoy water sports equally. Thus we can say that the same product in tourism i.e., beach and island carry different value and satisfaction for different tourists. Another important feature of service sector is the inseparability of the product. In this trade the production and consumption of the product can not be separated. The enjoyment of the tourist product can not take place out side, i.e., the experience or enjoyment of beach and island can not take place beyond the limits of visibility of the product. To enjoy the tourist product (beach and island) tourist need to visit the place in actual, thus putting pressure on the limited potential of product. Heterogeneity is also an inseparable feature of the tourism product. Because of the factor of inseparability it is not possible to produce a service in advance and that to according to any specified standards. As tourism product is a matter of experience which vary with every individual tourist thus, element of heterogeneity is an integral part of the tourist product. Perishability is another integral part of tourist product. Tourist product can not be stored. The terrorist attack on American cities on September 11, 2001 has most severely affected the tourist industry because product/service are perishable as these are produced at the time of demand. The decline in the air travel resulted in the vacant seats in the flights and vacant rooms in the hotels because these could not be stored for future consumption. What is not sold cannot be carried forward as stocks to be sold the next day or at any other time, resulting in the net loss of revenue to the company. The notion of ownership is difficult to define for the tourist product. It is more so applicable on the nature based tourism product. Beach and island are not owned by anybody and the scenic beauty is not the preserve of any individual. The services sold as parts of tourist product are experiences, hence can not be owned.

10.4.3 Infra-structural Facilities The primary ingredients for any destination to emerge as a successful tourist product are up to date infra- structural facilities. The Infra-structural facilities include primarily accessibility, boarding and lodging facilities, convenient transportation and safety and security at the destination. To define technically infrastructure any service created on or below the ground to cater the needs of tourist or local residents are infrastructure this consist of a long list of services including electricity, gas lines, sewage, drainage, runaways, etc. Several of the Infra-structural facilities are part of service sector thereby cannot be stored. At the destination the infra-structural facilities which are of permanent nature shall include transportation facilities, good well-maintained roads, hotels, restaurants, information bureaus, parking bays, etc. However, the crucial component for better enjoyment of these facilities is inputs from the services offered at these facilities.

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10.4.4 Marketing Marketing of any tourist product needs careful considerations. While promoting beach and island as tourist product you must take care of the following considerations:

• The carrying capacity of the site,

• The segment of the market, and

• Cost benefit analysis. Tourism based on nature-island and beach, is big business today. It can provide foreign exchange and economic reward for the host region/country. But tourism based on nature also threatens to destroy the resources on which it depends. Tour boats dump garbage in the waters, hoards of us trample fragile areas. This frenzied activity naturally threatens the viability of a nature based tourist product. Islands and beaches have very fragile ecology. At the same time the availability of land resource with both these are also very limited. Thus it is important to use available resources very economically. The kind of constructions to be allowed along the shore should be carefully designed so as to not to disturb the scenic beauty. Similarly the island have not only very limited space but also other necessities. One of the major concerns with the development of beach and island as tourist product has been the limited availability of potable water and also the plain water to be used for other necessities. Despite the availability of mammoth water boy water shortage is a perennial problem as seawater is saline and can not used for daily needs. An interesting example can be Lakshdweep Islands. It must also to be noted that nature based tourism is frequented by specialist tourists as well as ‘exotica’ tourists. However, exotica tourists dominate and they are non-specialist, interested superficially in the nature. The expectations of this segment of tourist differ from the specialist tourists and the number of tourist in each segment shall determine the kind of services to be offered in the tourism product. It can be explained by examining the case of Lakshdweep. It is famous for Corals and to enjoy corals one need to have an idea of kind of corals and the variety. At times to have a better look one needs to venture deep into sea using scuba diving. It is specialised activity and needs training thus larger time. Whereas one can also have a superficial look by using snorkel or glass-bottom boat. It is the difference in the interest and the availability of resources with the tourist that one can be offered different option of the same tourist product. The above example illustrates the point that while developing beach and island as tourist product it is necessary for you to analyse the kind of segment of market you are trying to address and this will determine the kind of facilities you will be offering with the tourist product. In other words, the kind of facilities to be developed at a destination depends upon the segment you are aiming for. The segment of market you are looking for will determine the kind of promotion it will require. If you are aspiring for specialised product users then advertisement should appear in the up-market magazines, whereas for budget tourist commercials in televisions will suffice.

10.4.5 Environmental Constraints Like any other form of tourism, Beach and island tourism also has severe environmental limitations. Beaches are located in the on the junction of land and water resources hence one need to consider the nature of both the resources. With the development of construction activity along the beach land degradation takes place which disturbs the basic feature scenic beauty, of beach. Growing encroachment of land and resultant building activity creates problem of potable water, waste disposal, etc. The problem is acute for island. The non-availability of even the basic amenities of life are in short supply in the islands. The only source of potable water is usually rainwater, as the ground water is saline. Electricity power is another constraint on island. Extensive construction activity on the island also disturbs 117 the climate of the region. Usually most of the food articles are procured from mainland. The problem of water and sewage disposal becomes acute on the islands. Thus, while developing any island as a tourist product, you shall be extra careful towards such environmental degradation and necessary preventive measures shall be taken to avoid above-mentioned situations. If proper care is not taken will result in degradation of environment and dissatisfaction of tourist and ultimately loss of revenue. Thus, we can say that some of the factors to be considered while planning island and beach tourism are:

• geographical Characteristics,

• culture and heritage, and

• environmental constraints, etc.

10.5 KOVALAM: A CASE OF BEACH PRODUCT

Along the Arabian Sea on the southern tip of India lies perhaps the most spectacular beach of India and are of the finest beach of the world. Kovalam is situated in the state of , just 16 km away from the capital city of Thiruvananthpuram. A sheltered natural bay created by a high, rocky promontory extending into the Arabian sea, the shallow waters of Kovalam quite inviting define the ideal features of a beach. Kovalam is located amidst thick green Coconut forest with a glorious tropical sun.

10.5.1 Characteristics There are three secluded precise crescents of irresistibly white beaches at Kovalam. The shallow waters of Kovalam provide the range of incredible activities. Like board surfing over the impish breakers, a dug out canoe or a catamaran or cruising on a one-tree-kayak, etc. The three beaches are:

• Kovalam beach lies just in front of the cottages of ITDC,

• The southernmost beach known as the Lighthouse beach is the most popular of the three is also known as Avaduthra beach, and

• Third beach is known as Amballam, stretches south-east from the bus-stop at Kovalam. Kovalam can be credited as an excellent beach for a number of reasons. The headlands are so structured, rocky outposts carve out small bays which are fringed by date palms. Each bay thus exudes a quietness and exclusiveness since it is not easily accessible across the beachfronts. It is ideal for water sports like snorkelling, sailing, water-skiing, etc. The adventure tourist can enjoy ride over thin dugouts called ‘Catamarans’. It provides topsy turvy ride over the blue waters of Arabian sea. The sea here is very rich with fishes and anybody interested can enjoy fishing for longer period. As Kovalam is located in Kerala, better known as god’s own country and famous for Ayurvedic massage, it is an added attraction to indulge in it. At the same time Yoga can also be practised so as to complement the massage.

10.5.2 Attractions As you have already been told that Kovalam is famous for its three spectacular beaches, however there are so many other attractions nearby that it can be promoted as very important tourist product for all types of tourists. Any tourism needs variety to sustain tourist’s interest for longer period. In this respect also Kovalam seems to be an ideal tourist product.

118 The capital city of Thiruvananthpuram is just 25 minute drive from Kovalam and is an ideal place to spend evenings. The city provides not only numerous market places but it also has number of good restaurants supplying both traditional as well as continental food. Thiruvananthpuram is a seaside city and built over seven rolling hills. It still retains its’ regal ambience with a number of colonial and traditional buildings. The important building include the Palace is a rare specimen of workmanship in the traditional Travancore style architecture. Similarly Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple is also an important specimen of architecture. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and architecturally a blend of Kerala and Dravidian styles of sculpture and architecture. It also houses murals and carvings. These places are not only visited by domestic tourist but also far by international tourist who either have special interest in architecture or just to appreciate the craftsmanship of the period.

Just 53 km from Kovalam one can witness a unique wooden palace known as Padmanabhpuram Palace. It is a fascinating structure of wood. It is famous for 17th and 18th century murals, carved mahogany ceiling, coloured mica windows, secret underground passages, inner courtyard, granite dance hall and special black shiny floors made of a unique combinations of eggs, jaggery, lime, brunt coconut, charcoal and river sand. The Palace is built in traditional Travancore style.

Land’s end, i.e., Kanyakumari (Cape of Comorin), situated south of Kovalam, in the state of Tamil Nadu, this is the land’s end of three oceans – the Arabian sea, India Ocean and Bay of Bengal – meet. The value of Koavalam as tourist product can also be enhanced by promoting backwaters ride at Thiruvallam. It is located between Thiruvananthpuram and Kovalam. However, the larger backwaters are available at which is 88 km from Kovalam. The objective of mentioning these attractions was not only to make you aware of the fact that these attractions not only increase the length of stay of tourist but they also provide option in type of product designed and developed for different tourist. For example, for youth there is Backwater ride, for elderly tourist pilgrimage Sree Padmanabha Swami temple or to Kanyakumari and to middle -aged tourist fun of sun and sand, complemented by massage (ayurvedic) and yoga at Kovalam Beach. These increase not only the option for longer stay but it also attract different categories of tourists. The beach becomes the central attraction and other attractions as mentioned above, like temples as part of the tourist product can influence pilgrimage tourists to enjoy the beach tourism also. Similarly, the heritage tourist can also club beach in his itinerary. If we apply this product information in designing and developing tourist product according to 5 level model of Philip Kotler following results appear before us:

LEVEL 1 Core Benefit Beach Tourism

LEVEL II General Product Kovalam Beach

LEVEL III Expected Product An interesting combination of three beaches, architectural beauty of Kuthiramahka Palace, religious attraction as Sree Padmanabha Temple (rare specimen of murals and carvings)

LEVEL IV Augmented Product Excursion to land’s end, i.e., Cape of Comorin (Kanyakumari) whose three oceans meet, viz., Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal

LEVEL V Potential Product Backwaters ride at Thiruvallam or at Kollam; ayurvedic or yoga attractions of Kovalam

As far as feasibility of Kovalam is concerned it is located near the capital of Kerala, Thiruvananthpuram, thus the accessibility is not a problem. Thiruvananthpuram is connected to all the major cities of India by road and railways. Thiruvananthpuram also has airport providing faster accessibility from Delhi, Cochin and Bangalore. From Thiruvananthpuram to Kovalam one can easily hire taxi or three-wheeler which takes hardly 20 minutes. There are state transport buses from Thiruvananthpuram to Kovalam from early in the morning to late evenings.

119 Regarding accommodation at Kovalam present picture conveys that Kovalam has facilities for all kinds of travellers, from Luxury hotels of 5 star category to budget hotels. Although the capacity of these hotels is limited yet their proximity to Thiruvananthpuram solves the problem. The major accommodation unit at Kovalam is the Ashok Beach resort developed by ITDC. It is situated on a natural hill overlooking the Arabian Sea. The in front of the Ashok beach resort has been converted into a deluxe hotel. Kerala Tourism Development Corporation has a two star hotel Samundra. There are quite a few private hotels as well as paying guest outlets at Kovalam. Apart from this there are several guesthouses and tourist lodges to solve the accommodation problem of several ten of thousands of tourists who visit this destination every day. At Kovalam you can also promote it’s variety of cuisine. Along with choices of Indian food one can also enjoy continental food. However, the greatest attraction is traditional cuisine of Kerala with its astonishing variety of coconut flavoured dishes. Hot toddy flavoured pancakes, juicy pineapples, crisp fries made of jackfruit, tapioca and banana are specially recommended. Fresh seafood further enhances the value of food and experience. Beach tourism has several limitations. It is very important to plan the construction activity near beaches so as to not to disturb the scenic beauty of the site. The unplanned construction activity to develop the accommodation facilities has not only led to the encroachments but has also led to the construction of hotels with poor facilities and sub-standard services and the capacity is far below the potential. As a result, the area of beach has been encroached by unhindered construction activities.

The problem of potable water and sanitation are common to any beach tourist product. The demand for water increases, as tourist needs water to bath once he returns from beach after spending hours to clear the saline water from his body. This creates problem for drainage as sea provides the easiest avenue. In the process the sanitation and scenic beauty suffers.

10.6 LAKSHDWEEP: AN IDEAL ISLAND PRODUCT

Lakshdweep is situated in the Arabian Sea, on the west of Kerala coast. It is about 220 to 440 km from the coastal city of Cochin in Kerala. It is cluster of islands with immense potential to be developed as island tourism product.

10.6.1 Fragile Ecology; Core Attraction

Lakshdweep has the country’s only coral islands. Thus, it becomes necessary for you to delineate the geographical features of Lakshdweep islands only then you can design and develop the island product. The Lakshdweep sea separates the ridge from the Malabar shelf and it rises above the sea from a depth of 2000 to 2700 meters in the Laccadive sea and to a height of 4000 meters from the Arabian sea bed. Lakshdweep has a tropical climate, with summer temperatures ranging from 35 degrees centigrade to 22 degrees centigrade. The monsoon, during which time the islands are closed to tourists, is between 15th May to 15th September. Some effect of the north-east monsoon is felt in October-November in the form of light transitory winds. What makes it such a potential resource for us is the fact that the Lakshdweep islands are formed from coral and beautiful formations which can be seen all over the lagoons. It is always tempting for everybody to pick up one piece as a souvenir but it is not only illegal but it also endangers the fragile ecology of the islands. The ecology is more so fragile as coral formation takes place near the surface. Corals can not survive deep in the sea. This is why it is very necessary to carefully plan the tourism in Lakshdweep. Excessive movement either of humans or motorboats will adversely affect the corals. It is also important for you to realise that every attempt to witness these corals from close quarters also destroys them. As in the case of beaches the problem of potable water and sanitation are also common in the case of island. All the inhabited demand for sanitary facilities also further accentuate the problem. 120

10.6.2 Secondary Attractions

There are five important islands offering almost similar attractions. Few have better facilities for tourists with boarding facilities and the rest don’t even have the boarding facility. Thus, while designing and developing your island tourist product you must equip yourself with what kind of facilities and services exists for what class of tourist. Otherwise, your losses will be irreparable.

• Kavaratti: It is the administrative headquarters of the islands since 1964. Kavaratti does not have corals, however, it provides facilities for water sports, swimming and basking on warm sandy beaches. Kayaks and sailing yachts are also available. Sea is very rich in aquatic life and one can hire glass- bottomed boat to witness it. A marine aquarium is also there to provide an offshore experiences of aquatic life.

• Kalpeni: Kalpeni is known for its scenic beauty. A peculiar feature of Kalpeni atoll is the huge storm bank of coral debris along the eastern and south-eastern shoreline. Here one can swim, reef walk or indulge in water sports on kayaks, sailboats and pedal boats. One can also visit the Baniyan factory

• Minicoy: Minic oy is the second largest island followed by Andrott. It is crescent shaped southern most island of Lakshdweep. It also has a large lagoon. It is an important centre for Tuna fishing. Here, one can visit their traditional villages, Tuna tanning factory and the light-house which was constructed in 1885. Tourists can enjoy swim and walk and can also hire Kayaks and sailing yachts.

• Kadamat: Kadamat looks like a long strip of land. It is 8 km long and 550 m wide at the broadest point. In addition to the narrow lagoon on the east, there is a spectacular shallow lagoon on the west, ideal for water sports. As a result it has got very beautiful beach. Kadmat has been developed as tourist resort with accommodation facilities though in limited numbers. Water sports facilities are easily available, as it has been promoted as tourist destination. The peace and scenic beauty combined with facilities for water sports makes it an ideal place to spend holidays.

• Bangaram: Bangaram is a tear shaped uninhabited island. The island also has an inland lake almost covered by rich plantation of coconut and palm. The dense forest makes even the hottest day pleasant. There are three uninhabited islands near Bangaram offer a day’s outing. All the islands are engulfed in the blur turquoise water of a single lagoon. These uninhabited islands offer richest potential to be developed as important tourist island product. Once developed these products would add significantly to the economy of the region.

LEVEL 1 Core Benefit Coral reefs and coral formations

LEVEL II General Product Islands of Lakshwdeep rich of acquatic life

LEVEL III Expected Product Water sports at Kavaratti and warm and sandy beaches

LEVEL IV Augmented Product Scuba diving or similar water sport related competitions

LEVEL V Potential Product For extending length of stay more than coral, i.e., health tourism can also be promoted

Lakshdweep islands offer a variety of outdoor activities, such as Catamarans, kayaks, snorkelling, sailing, deep sea diving, scuba diving, etc. There is facility to learn scuba diving at Bangaram. As the diving location is still unexplored, undersea off the reefs of Bangaram, has been ranked by experienced divers as being among the best anywhere. Lakshdweep is accessible from mainland by air and by sea. Indian Airlines offers regular flights to Lakshdweep, i.e., Agatti island from Cochin. Other islands are connected to Agatti either by helicopter or by fast boats. As only Bangaram has been developed for tourist accommodation, it is connected to Agatti according to the timings of the flight. 121 Most important attraction for tourists in Lakshdweep is the journey by ship. Since, Lakshdweep is connected to mainland by two ships, Tipu Sultan and Bharat Seema. These two passenger ships regularly ply between Cochin and various islands of Lakshdweep. Apart from carrying regular traffic of these islands the ships have special provision for domestic and international tourists. These ships have several categories of accommodation for tourists. Deluxe class, First class and tourist class. Deluxe and first class offer two-bedded or four-bedded cabins, whereas tourist class offers only dormitory. Generally seats on ships are offered as part of package where tourist are expected to spend nights on ships and daytime at island. Tourists are ferried from ships in the morning and are brought back by the evening. Lakshdweep offers limited accommodation. The accommodations for tourists are available on above mentioned five islands only. The accommodation at these islands is located along the shore opening towards sea and provide panoramic view of Arabian sea. This can be marketed as unique selling point of these island products. There is only very limited land is available for development of accommodation. Thus, several tourist package, make it mandatory for tourists to spend nights on ships. Local cuisine is offered to tourists and there are provisions for continental food also. There are few Dhabas offering local cuisine. 10.6.3 Marketing As discussed above, the accessibility and accommodation for tourist is limited as far as Lakshdweep is concerned. However, at the same time these two factors also make it luxury tourism product or available to exclusive interest tourists. Thus the segment of market for Lakshdweep is different than beach tourism. This factor is very crucial while designing the Lakshdweep as tourism product. Tourists spending a hefty amount on accessibility and accommodation demand better and prompt services. For such tourists time is very precious, thus attractions should be designed to make optimum use of time. Lakshdweep is different in the sense the fragile ecology of these islands demands restrictive opening of this natural marvel. Package tours offered through ships are more useful as these restrict the number of visitors making use of already limited resources. The problem of potable water and sanitation/waste disposal makes it even harder to develop accommodation facilities

Check Your Progress

1) Define the features of island and beach tourism? ………………………………………………………………………………………………...

2) Explain the basic characteristics of tourist product as part of service sector? ………………………………………………………………………………………………...

3) Explain the role of peripheral attraction in the development of a tourism product, with the help of Kovalam? ………………………………………………………………………………………………...

4) Explain the limitation one faces in designing island product? ………………………………………………………………………………………………...

10.7 LET US SUM UP

Development of island and beach as tourism product, it is necessary to design it in the manner to exploit the maximum potential of a sight, however, without disturbing the natural surroundings of the place. In other words, not only the environmental concerns are necessary to address but also the economics of it. 122 Development of island tourism for budget tourist will prove to be a futile exercise. For example, it is difficult to promote Lakshdweep as a destination for budget tourist because of the cost of transportation, accommodation and the ancillary activities. Where as at the same time you can design and use beaches as tourism product for all types of tourists. As discussed above, in fact as up to now we have been wasting large potentials of beach tourism in India as we have been treating these resources in isolation. The need of the hour to club different types of tourism – pilgrimage, nature-based, festivals to promote beach as ideal tourism product.

10.8 CLUES TO ANSWERS

Check Your Progress 1) See Sec.10.2. 2) See Sec.10.3. 3) See Sec.10.5. 4) See Sec.10.6.

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