Will Goa’s loss be Karnataka’s gain? 

A file photo of Panambur beach in Mangaluru. Experts believe that for coastal tourism to work in Karnataka, focus should not be on replicating Kerala or Goa, but playing to the State’s strengths.

For years now, the development of Karnataka’s 320-kilometre coastal line has been on the cards. From coastal tourism policies to separate committees for coastal development, the Tourism Department had chalked out elaborate plans. With Goa, which is known primarily for its beaches facing flak for high costs and increasing resistance from locals, can its neighbour Karnataka make use of the opportunity to attract higher footfall to its beaches? 

“Karnataka’s pristine coastline spans across Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Uttara Kannada districts. These have been identified as focus tourism destinations. Furthermore, the State government is focussed on a coastal tourism development cell for the development of beach and coastal tourism in Karnataka,” Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Tourism, recently said in Parliament.  

Experts believe that for coastal tourism to work in Karnataka, these talks have to be taken forward beyond the paper.  

Better infrastructure

“For 15 to 20 years now there have been talks about emphasising coastal tourism in the State. But nothing is happening on the ground and a big thrust is necessary if we are to attract more tourists to our coasts like neighbouring States,” said Sanjar Imam, member, Karnataka Tourism Forum. 

What the State needs along its coastal lines is good infrastructure. The lack of star hotels, resorts, and other high-end accommodation options has been a sore point for quite some time now.  

“As a coastal tourism destination, Udupi has been doing so well, but there are not enough good hotels or resorts there. Even Indian brands have not set up star hotels there. The onus here is of course on the government to attract big brands to come and set up their hotels and resorts. It should also take the lead in constructing good highways and other infrastructure,” Mr. Imam pointed out. 

No shacks, please

A few months ago, officials of the Tourism Department said that plans were in the works to set up shacks at the popular beaches of the State, like in Goa, to provide experiential tourism to visitors. But are these shacks necessary and sustainable? “No,” say experts. 

“If we set up shacks, we will attract only a particular kind of crowd, and we might end up facing the same problems that Goa is facing now. We do not want to replicate Kerala or Goa, but rather play to our strengths,” said Gaurav Hegde, honorary secretary, Dakshina Kannada Tourism Society. He said that the players in the coastal region want to adopt a nature-based approach for the State’s beaches. 

Different approach

“Our carrying capacity is also less when compared to beaches of the neighbouring States. Our beaches in Panambur and Malpe are overcrowded but they are not the spending crowd. We want to provide natural, purposeful, and experiential tourism which attracts the spending crowd, especially the young. We also want to attract those who come for research and the IT crowd who work from various destinations now,” Mr. Hegde added. 

He also said the Coastal Karnataka Tourism Development Council has been working actively in recent months. “From tie-ups with start-ups to CRZ programmes and adventure tourism, a lot of work is being taken up by the government in collaboration with us. It might take a year or two for the results to reflect,” he further said.