Sustainable tourism policy

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Sustainable tourism a tool for development this year's theme of World Tourism Day appears to have been buried under an avalanche of exciting  tourism EVENTS coming to Vizag from 27th Sep to 2nd Oct.

 You know how "creative" we are, We will have Rock Night, Retro Night, Melody Night and glitzy Bollywood performers entertaining the entertainment starved populace of Vizag.

These  programmes will be held on our one and only BEACH ROAD already bursting with local crowds. So please expect the blasting blare of speakers and "mike testing halla...halla...halla" late into the night every night on the beach with the local boys hanging around. And the MC yelling "GOOD EVENING VIZAGGGGGG!"

While the whole world takes up frivolous issues like Sustainable Tourism we have decided to be  intellectually fresh and different ... we  have decided to have SONG & DANCE Not to forget "new" programmes like Children's painting contest,  elocution contest, beach rally and such novel activities. Lakhs and lakhs and lakhs will be spent on these great events. Meanwhile our tourist destinations will have no amenities.  (Want a toilet?  Ha! Do your business in the bushes on the road side).

World wide themes are not important to us. Silly things like environment and sustainability is not for us Vizagites.  WE LIKE TO BE DIFFERENT! We are Vizag! We demand to be entertained!
[8:00 AM, 3/7/2018] Sohan Hatangadi: World Tourism Day 2017 is just three days away. The theme this year is "Sustainable Tourism - a tool for development". World over government's and tourism departments have realized that sustainability is not a fancy esoteric term.  Not just a luxury but a matter of survival. 

Vizag which derives its attraction from the sea and our hills (Araku is our jewel in the crown) is especially sensitive because of the fragile nature of these so called "attractions". If we take them for granted we will surely regret it.

In the last three years the WTD theme was taken seriously. This year we seem to have lost our focus. With three days to go we do not have a clear plan for the 27th that will push the sustainability agenda strongly. We have not even started a build-up to the idea. 

While sustainability will be given different hues by different groups, we must now focus urgently on making sure that every tourist spot will be protected from vandalism and misuse and is kept cleaner than ever before.  

Our tourism department has ambitious plans in our eastern ghats and want to develop several areas including waterfalls.  yet we have not been able to put aside even a couple of days to apply our minds and clearly define a simple  WATERFALL TOURISM POLICY. A strategy to safeguard  and in fact improve these areas in the future. 

Earlier developments at such environmentally sensitive sites has caused immense damage.  Take Bora caves for example. Not one  of these millions of years old geological formation have been left un-vandalized. 

By treating these  vulnerable sites as simple "attractions" we are ensuring their early  demise and that will be like shooting ourselves in the foot. 

That is why it is so important to have focussed on the international theme this year. But that has not happened. 

If something is done or not it will be a good idea for us to meanwhile propagate the thought through audio visuals such as the one attached.

If I have intruded on your time please accept my sincere apologies.

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