Karnataka’s beach tourism shackled by rules: Experts

What ails beach tourism in the state? Why it is lagging behind neighbouring Goa, though Karnataka has a much longer coastline?

These were some of issues discussed at a seminar on beach tourism here on Tourism Day.

The speakers were pessimistic about the state catching up with Goa. Experts felt it was not just about liberalisation, but it also called for reforms in various acts and rules to bag a larger share of beach tourism.

Goa-based tourism consultant Gunakar Shetty felt that “Goa could capitalise on the opportunities to develop tourism in a concerted way. The government, people and the stake holders clubbed their efforts to create a conducive atmosphere for development of an all comprehensive beach tourism in the state.

“During the last 20 years the beach tourism has grown into a multi-dimensional tourism destination from what was once merely a haven for hippies. Of all nine maritime states, Goa was the largest earner of beach tourism revenues with just 120 km of beaches, while Karnataka with 309 km has only one spot of beach tourism in Mangalore.”

Can beaches of Mangalore become a destination for national and international medical conferences? No, not under present set of rules, said Pavan Hegde, a medical practitioner.

“Medical conferences attract large number of doctors and medical experts from all over the country and the organisers do spend lots of money to host them. These conferences also come with its own entertainment, food and beverages packages. If we are not able to host a banquet to the delegates on the beach, what is the fun of holding the conference in a coastal city?” Hegde asked.

“As part of the banquet we need to serve liquor too, but the rules in the state prohibit serving and consumption of liquor in places other than enclosed areas, which defeats the idea,” he added.

According to sources in medical circles, various associations of specialty and super specialty levels spend big money to host conferences hosted by various associations of specialty and super specialty levels. On hospitality alone they spend crores and it is a shame that Mangalore cannot host them.

The experts felt the rules have to undergo a series of reforms, and if it can happen in Goa, why not in Karnataka? The issue of Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) also came up for debate. “The governments in Goa and Kerala have relaxed the CRZ rules to erect tourism infrastructure. Only in Karnataka, the government is opposed to changes in the CRZ, which is hindering the erection of coastal and beach tourism infrastructure,” said Yatish Baikampady CEO of the Panambur Beach Tourism Project. 

He said “Beach tourists spend money if the facilities are given, which was the case in Goa. It is a shame that 309 km long beaches in Karnataka is not used for tourism.”

JK Rao, a cruise tourism organiser, said there are 120 boats in a small state like Goa to facilitate cruise tourism, but Karnataka has only one vessel at Mangalore, while the backwaters of Kerala have many houseboats. Vatika Kamath, chairman of the tourism committee of the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said foreign cruise vessels bring tourists from all over the world, but we fail to provide them even basic facilities.