Coastal Cities: Tourism among many opportunities

“Goa is India’s version of Paradise,” say some who have experienced the thrill of a visit to the vibrant state on India’s west coast. Indeed, the rich heritage, the fine food, and, of course, the pristine beaches make Goa one of the country’s most sought-after vacation destinations. Its sun-filled beaches are primarily what draw visitors from all over the country and even from overseas.

Several other coastal cities and island destinations in India are vibrant tourist attractions, have given rise to a thriving economy, and contribute greatly to the livelihoods of the local population; the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, and Kovalam in Kerala, for example. Tourism and the bountiful benefits it brings are major benefits enjoyed by coastal cities. In addition to Goan cities, several small cities and towns along India’s vast coastline are supported by tourism-related activities such as hospitality, food, and entertainment. Large populations thrive on these incomes, providing an enriching experience to visitors, thereby further enhancing the appeal of the place. Policymakers, administrations, and, above all, local governments in these cities need to leverage the enormous bounty bestowed by nature on these cities. With the large influx of visitors almost throughout the year, good facilities need to be made available.

The hospitality industry needs to set up good hotels, motels, homestays, etc. Public conveniences, clean surroundings, and efficient local transport all add to the appeal of tourist destinations. However, the most important aspect is safety and security. Given the unfamiliarity of visitors with the local language and locations, often anti-social elements are tempted to exploit the situation and cheat or cause harm to tourists. Such unfortunate incidents make it to media headlines and adversely impact the reputation of the city and, sadly, of the local populace. An efficient law-and-order arrangement must be put in place to avoid such incidents. Many cities have a special tourism police force for this.

In addition to the benefits of tourism, coastal cities enjoy some other benefits, like clean, less polluted air, a warm, pleasant climate, windy outdoors, and water-based transit options (the water metro in Kochi and Mumbai’s coastal roads). Among the less-discussed ones is the potential for augmenting the city’s water supply through the desalination of sea water. Given the acute water stress in many cities around the world, this is a valuable source of almost unlimited water (though at a cost). A significant proportion of Chennai Metro water supply is sourced from desalination, with some functional plants and some more under construction. Chennai has been a pioneer in using desalinated water for potable purposes. Sadly, this option is not available in non-coastal cities. Yet another less-discussed opportunity is that of land reclamation to expand the city’s land mass.

Several cities around the globe have built infrastructure like airports (Hong Kong) on land reclaimed from the sea. Coastal cities, on the other hand, face several additional challenges or threats because of their location along the sea.

This issue of Urban Update looks at several aspects of coastal cities, including their opportunities and challenges. We hope readers will find the issue engaging. Do write in with your views.