Water sports can turn Diu into a destination that is sought after by young tourists and infrastructural developments in Hampi can take tourism to new heights. A survey gauges possibilities
Think of adventurous water sports and images from Goa’s Bagha or Calangute beaches pop up in our memory clouds. But have you ever thought of any other destination for that bumpy banana ride or breathtaking parasailingIJ Well, Diu could be another fantastic option that has been least explored by travellers.
For those interested in history, Hampi is hardly an option. After all, who’s excited to see ruinsIJ But there’s a great annual festival that celebrates and brings forth what this dilapidated destination is all about. On these lines, FICCI and Ernst & Young have identified 12 unexplored tourism destinations in the country, focussing on their main attractions, their connectivity and availability of accommodation facilities, which can be potential dream destinations for travellers.
Diverse destinations have been covered, ranging from the Majuli Islands — the largest river islands in the Indian sub-continent — to Auroville — a spiritual center near Puducherry and the desert camps of Rajasthan.
The nine other identified destinations which are having great potential to be developed as great tourist destinations are Chitrakoot (MP), Diu (Daman & Diu), Dudhwa National Park (UP), Elephanta Caves (Maharashtra), Hampi (Karnataka), lahaul & Spiti (HP), Rann of Kutch (Gujarat), Sundarbans Delta (WB) and Gurez/Gurais (J&K).
However, there are loopholes that must be looked into and steps taken to develop them on the lines of other popular destinations.
Marquee festivals
A theme-based event such as a global race, trek or excursion can be organised at these locations. For instance, a camel race on the lines of the Boat Race festival can be held in the Rann of Kutch as well as in the deserts of Rajasthan. These should be global events held over several days to attract tourists.
Theme-based activities
While natural beauty and heritage buildings attract tourists, what makes them stay for a longer period are options of diverse activities. Therefore, based on the nature of each location, sporting activities could be promoted. For instance, a good mix of water sports could turn Diu into a destination, which when well maintained, could become a place much sought after by younger tourists.
Brand ambassadors
Some states such as Gujarat (Amitabh Bachchan) and Kolkata (Shah Rukh Khan) have involved leading Bollywood stars as brand ambassadors for the states to promote the tourist destinations. Another initiative undertaken by the government of Diu was to project Diu as the ‘Isle of Calm’. The government had engaged ad agency Ogilvy & Mather for designing and conducting this campaign.
Basic facilities
Some of these locations lack basic tourist facilities such as security, guided tours, clean and accessible toilets and easy access for differently-abled people. This needs to be addressed on a priority basis.
Preservation
Some of these locations are also in urgent need of preservation. It is, therefore, important that tourism is promoted in an ecologically sensitive manner and revenues from it are used to preserve monuments or the ecology.
For instance, preservation of the Elephanta Caves in Maharashtra and the ruins in Hampi should be an ongoing process to ensure that they remain as close to their original state as possible. Rapid erosion of Majuli island in Assam is a problem that can have consequences as dire as the entire island being wiped out and thus needs immediate attention.
The Central Government has taken a step in this direction by launching the Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY). Some of the successful initiatives are already churning out great results.
Tourism policy
One of the basic initiatives is to have a dedicated state tourism policy which outlines how the states would like to project themselves. The policy also includes focus areas of the government, specific interventions proposed/planned, new/existing incentives to developers/private players and vision for development of tourism in the state, among others.
Social media
To promote any destination, it is very important to provide accurate information which is easily accessible through various media. Thus, having a good website which includes information regarding tourist attractions, connectivity, reservation facilities, best time to travel, tourist facilities and accommodation becomes imperative for promoting any destination.