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BEKAL:
DESTINATION OF THE FUTURE
Bekal:
A ‘Special Tourism Area’
Integrated
Tourism Development in India
The
National Policy for Tourism development in India is based on
a broad action plan including
-
Preservation
of natural heritage
-
Socio-economic
development of the tourism destinations
-
Increasing
employment opportunities
-
Development
of domestic tourism
-
Development
of international tourism and optimisation of foreign
exchange
earnings
-
Diversification
of tourism products
All
of which together will increase India’s share in world
tourism.
In
the 1990’s, World Tourism Organisation projections
indicated that global international tourist arrivals would
increase at around 4.8% p.a. from around 500 millions in
1993 to 661 millions by the year 2000, and then by 3.6% p.a.
to 937 million by the year 2010. The South Asia region,
within which India is located, received 3.2 million
international arrivals, i.e. 0.7% of global tourist arrivals
in the 90’s.
After
analysing this scenario, the Government of India concluded
that more destinations should be identified for integrated
resort development. This was implemented by the ‘Special
Tourism Area’ programme aimed at development and
popularisation of ‘Beach Tourism’ in the country.
‘Special
Tourism Area’
scheme to attract investment in hitherto unknown
destinations, which held immense beach tourism potential.
Bekal:
A Special Tourism Area
In
1992, the Government of India declared Bekal as a Special
Tourism Area. Extremely scenic landscape, extensive beaches,
numerous estuaries and backwaters and unspoilt environs
qualified Bekal as a potential site for an international
standard beach destination.
Bekal:
The most potential beach destination in South Asia
Bekal
is unarguably one of the best potential beach resort
destinations in South Asia. India has a very few comparable
locations that offer the diversity of attractions to be
found in Bekal. Yet, unlike most other existing resort
destinations which are close to a major urban centre, and
thus already over developed, the Bekal area is still virgin
and pristine, offering the opportunity to set up a new
planned resort destination.
The
basic thrust of the project is sustainable tourism and is
considered in terms of the socio-economic and environmental
sustainability.
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