If you love Vizag - don't kill it with tourism

A version of this article also appeared in the Times of India, Vizag Edition, today Nov 18, "Forget tourists, develop city for its own people".
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Over the last several months I have been travelling out of Vizag often. Each time I return I am glad to be back. Not only because I am coming home to family and friends but because I come home to Vizag; my stunningly beautiful city.   

It is natural that the residents of the city to be proud of Vizag. And from this pride comes the tendency to show off the city to others. That is why we Vizagite say “We should develop Vizag into a tourist spot”. The rationale for wanting tourists is that: tourism brings in visitors who spend gobs of money here and generate employment that makes Vizagites rich. Notice how a subliminal pride of the city is rationalized into what appears to be a good reason. But what is the truth about tourism?

While there are several different types of tourists let us examine a few main segments

MONEY BAGS Indian and western	The rich five star hotel and cruise liner type. Generally well-heeled, big spenders and elderly. They travel in Mercedes Benz Taxis and go to places like Vancouver, Monaco or Geneva. You won’t catch them dead in Vizag
MICE	The Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, Exhibitions (MICE) category. For example a meeting of surgeons, or Car dealers. They do block bookings at the best hotels, sit all day in conference halls and expect to be entertained in the evenings. They will go to Goa, Bali or Bangkok any time. Vizag has absolutely no tourism “Oomph”
MIDDLE and LOWER MIDDLE	Families, with a group size of around 10. A couple of elderly and a few kids. They stay in small hotels or guesthouses. They hire a Sumo taxi into which they all cram in. They visit all the “attractions” including the Museum and Kali Mandir. They crowd our beach road; they eat street food and litter their surroundings. Then they go off and inflict themselves on Araku and Bora Caves.
BACK-PACKERS	Generally young adults. They travel with friends. No kids. They stay in Youth Hostels or Value hotels and spend well on food and beverages. They would like to have a beer and listen to live music. They seek companionship, and adventure. Vizag has no facilities to cater to this segment
THELA-PACKERS Plastic sanchi tourists	Generally seen on the beach road in large groups, typically pilgrims, with shaven heads, carrying plastic bags (“Thelas”) in which their belongings are packed. They travel in busses, stay in stations, bus stands and low end lodges - dozen to a room. They bathe and defecate in the open, spend very little and litter extensively.

Everything outdoor tourists

 Now let us reveal some tourism truths:

·        90% of those we perceive as tourists are just Vizagites taking a break in their own city. These are the same folk who travel to other places as tourists. The local administration must first concentrate on these domestic local spenders before thinking about the fictional tourists from elsewhere.

·        Of the balance 10% - some are “Middle” group but most are low spending “Thela Packers” who stress the city’s resources without adding much revenue. We are paying GVMC taxes to pay the cleaners who pick up the garbage from the beach left there by the low spending tourists. So, you and I, long-time residents of this fair city, are actually subsidizing the Thela Packing tourists!

·        Vizag is not in the foreign tourist’s radar. We have neither the physical or cultural space (they need quiet and clean beaches) nor the facilities (like quality toilets and hygienic restaurants serving beer) to offer them. So forget that segment.

Make room - here come more tourists!

·        Most importantly - there is just no more room in Vizag! This is most obvious when you look at beach road on any weekend. It looks like Kumbh Mela has shifted to Vizag! The city is bursting at the seams. Its resources as far as garbage handling, sewage, transportation – you name it, are all stressed. And the crowds! You can’t walk two feet on the beach road without bumping into a dozen people and 50 dogs. And you want to get more people in here? Are we being rational?

Finally, if you really love Vizag – for your city’s sake, don’t go around asking for more tourists. We want development but it must first be for ourselves. Citizens who pay taxes and spend money on goods and services that create employment right here, in our own neighbourhood community. Give us a better quality of outdoor life before attempting to offer it to that elusive tourist. 

That is being rational.