When it comes to beaches, Karnataka has had a bad reputation with tourists drowning, couples being harassed by rowdy elements, dark and lifeless shores after sundown are common complaints, which force the beach-lovers from Bangalore and Mysore hit Goa.
When it comes to beaches, Karnataka has had a bad reputation with tourists drowning, couples being harassed by rowdy elements, dark and lifeless shores after sundown are common complaints, which force the beach-lovers from Bangalore and Mysore hit Goa.
But not anymore, as the Panambur beach is now ready to attract tourists — family and stags - where each group can pursue its own passion. Most importantly, the beach has recorded zero drowning cases since October 15, 2009. The grim signboard which the Mangalore district administration had posted on the beach giving the statistics of the drowning cases has now vanished. In 2006, 21 people had drowned, including 12 from Bangalore.
“We have appointed 12 lifeguards who work in two shifts and are trained by the Life Guard Academy of Australia. The beach itself has a Life Guard Training Academy which trains them for public beaches, swimming pools, resorts, hotels and save the general public, which has helped us in bringing the drowning cases to a zilch,” said the CEO of the Panambur beach tourism development project, Yathish Baikampady. It is, in fact, the first private initiative in the Karnataka coast developing beach tourism.
“I have been allotted two kilometres of beach that includes surf, sand and a few meters at the back of the beach, which is covered by foliage. Beaches in Karnataka used to be the dullest of all places, people used to sit on the sand, eat groundnuts and go home. A few youngsters who ventured into the sea were mostly shooed off home by the elders. There were no food stalls, no entertainment and no basic amenities and people never knew what it is like to take a ride in a boat. But today we have surfing, Jet Ski scooters; motorboat rides, safe swimming areas and eateries offering a range of ethnic and exotic food. A beer tavern is in the pipeline. We are keen on setting up gadang (tavern in Tulu) which serves fresh and chilled toddy,” Baikampady told DNA.
In the past few months food festivals, beach carnivals, cultural shows, sand castling and sand sculpturing have been organised, needless to say they were all jam-packed. “ We also organise events like War of the DJs, Beach Safaris, early-morning yoga and classical music clubbed together and late-night Western music concerts,” he said.
“Keeping the beach clean was the first challenge we faced, so we sent an appeal to the fishermen community to help us in preventing defecation and garbage dumping on the beach. We have banned smoking and chewing pan or gutkha on the beach and all our concessionaires have been asked not to use disposable plastic items, if found violating the norm, they will be evicted unceremoniously,” said Hemanth Poojary, a member of the project.
“It is a good revenue model, and the government too gets 15% of the profits earned by the project franchisees. It also works as a self-employment project for the educated fishermen youth who wanted an alternative avenue of income,” said an official, the tourism department. “We have allowed them to catch fish on the beach and sell it to the tourists. Features like dolphin tour, banquets under the trees and mini luxury vessel ride are also on the anvil,” he said.
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