Tourism

Photo: Andrea Deri

Carefully Regulated Tourism

Around 4,000 tourists visit Lakshadweep every year. 70% are from India and 30% are from overseas (mostly from the UK, Germany and Italy).

Tourism is carefully regulated to protect Lakshadweep's unique culture and the region's diverse marine ecosystems. 

Lakshadweep's authorities promote a 'high-value and low-volume' approach to tourism development.

Three-prong Approach

Supporting Lakshadweep's eco-tourism policy was an important part of 'Project Giant Clam'. Project activities to develop sustainable tourism included: 

• developing local capacities for conservation and sustainable managment through trainings (2005-7)
• raising islanders' and tourists' awareness of conservation issues (2005-8)
• formulating guidelines for developing a management plan for sustainable tourism (2007-8) (download: Guidelines 2008)

Training

Photo: Andrea Deri

The 35 local young people who were trained in environmental interpretation on the three islands of Kavaratti, Kadmat and Agatti in December 2005 (with follow-up activities in 2007).

These young people will play an active role in making sure Lakshadweep's tourism industry develops in an environmentally sustainable and socially responsible way.

Photo: Andrea Deri

Some of the new tour-guides are working at tourist resorts Agatti and Bangaram, and many have also become volunteers in our research and community development activities in the archipelago.

Community-based Tourism

The training proved to be a catalyst for Sameer,  manager of the 'Sandy Beach Cultural and Eco-tourism Society' , a local nongovernmental organisation on Kavaratti island. He and his team members now run conservation education trips out into the Kavaratti lagoon in a glass-bottomed boat. His success story is an example of a holistic, community-based approach to domestic tourism that many of the trainees have adopted.

Awareness Raising

Publications

The 'Project Giant Clam' designed posters, stickers, handouts and postcards to raise both tourists' and islanders' awareness of local conservation values. Their cooperation is essential to sustain Agatti's unique cultural and natural systems.

Handouts

The 'Lagoon Trail' (see picture above, download Malayalam version) and  the 'Beach Trail' handouts were created by Mohammad Haneefa, an artist and art teacher in Kavaratti. These handouts are the first of a series of locally relevant environmental education materials.

Films

• Lakshadweep Promotional Video (5')
• 'Our Islands' (27')

Updated: 18 August 2008