Strengthening Communities, Preserving Environment: The Nexus Between Community-Based Tourism & Conservation

Gone are the days when the sole motive for travel was to ‘have fun’ or ‘relax.’ With less than a decade left for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2030, there has been a significant shift in focus to make tourism a driving force for good that not only benefits the ‘traveler’ but also engages and empowers local communities, creates livelihood options, respects and serves the environment, and promotes local cultures. Engaging in this type of sustainable and community-based tourism (SCBT) has the incredible potential not only to expand traveler’s beliefs, thoughts, and assumptions about other cultures, but also to protect the environment and enhance the livelihoods of the local people.  Yet, in order for this type of transformation to take place, destinations, DMOs, and tourism boards must take strategic steps toward sustainable development. When they do, the potential benefits to both the traveler and the destination are limitless.

India: Setting an Example Along the Coast

For years, India has exhibited a strong commitment to protecting and conserving the pristine coastal and marine ecosystems through holistic management of the resources. India has recently provided some exemplary models of environmental conservation and protection in the tourism sector. In 2018, India’s Chandrabhaga beach in Odisha became the first beach in all of Asia to receive the iconic Blue Flag certification, one of the world’s most recognized eco labels awarded to beaches and marinas that have met a series stringent educational, safety, environmental, and accessibility criteria. 

This incredible recognition of Chandrabhaga beach marked an important milestone in India's journey towards a ‘Clean and Green India’ and inspired the authorities in different states to work towards achieving the prestigious certification.

Photo of Rushikonda Beach, taken from from Pexels

How Does the Blue Flag Certification Serve as a Positive Example for Other Destinations?

In 2020, the Denmark-based Foundation for Environment Education (FEE) conferred the coveted eco-label of Blue Flag Certification to Rushikonda Beach, adding it to the prestigious list of certified beaches in the country. Located in the city of Visakhapatnam, Rushikonda Beach is famous for its golden sands and blue waves from the Bay of Bengal.  Today, it is one of ten Blue Flag beaches in India, and the only one in the State of Andhra Pradesh that was selected by the Union government for development to match international standards under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). 

The clean Rushikonda Beach naturally captivates both local and international tourists, making it a top tourist destination in the city of Visakhapatnam. Its identity as a top tourist destination directly increases livelihood opportunities for the locals, especially women in the nearby areas of the beach, who take up a variety of jobs to run the tourism sector in the state. For instance, one can get to witness women making beautiful necklaces, home decorating items from sea shells and selling them to the tourists. One could also enjoy interacting with and listening to the stories of the local shopkeepers on the beach who sell a variety of sea products and other local souvenirs. Surrounded by green plants, the beach acts as a magnet for nature lovers. Rushikonda beach is one of the busiest beaches in India and sometimes attracts nearly 5000+ people on weekends for walking, swimming, and picnics. This clearly sets an example for other beaches to leverage their efforts in maintenance and cleanliness, promote small-scale businesses and create a pool of employment opportunities for the local inhabitants.

To maintain the cleanliness of the beach, the officials have appointed beach cleaners and supervisors. There are also weekly voluntary beach cleaning activities that anyone can join. Therefore, the responsibility to keep the beaches and nature clean is equally shared by both the local communities and tourists.

Photo taken from Pexels

Fighting Challenges, Finding Solutions

The initiative to prepare a list of Indian beaches to achieve the 'Blue Flag' in pursuit of sustainable development of the coastal regions of India has the prime objective to protect and conserve the immaculate coastal and marine ecosystems through holistic and integrated management of the resources.

However, prestigious certifications come with great challenges.

Authorities in the coastal states strive to achieve a blue flag certification; however, since beaches are exposed to commercialization, it becomes very difficult to get such certifications. In the case of the Rushikonda Beach, low budgets to monitor and dispose off the waste generated both on the beach and in the water along with unorganized plastic waste control measures served as some major challenges to the authorities. Since the beach is surrounded by shops — food stalls, souvenir shops–it was a herculean task to prevent littering and garbage accumulation on selected spots like vehicle parking area or around the shops.

Furthermore, local fishermen in the state of Goa use the beach for their livelihood and everyday occupation which creates arduous tasks for the beach authorities and the governments to clear the spaces for various tasks to be undertaken in order to get the certification. In order to attract the tourists, water sports and other activities on the beaches are encouraged. Often, local people who sustain their living through tourism don’t support the authorities and beach cleaning processes may sometimes be time taking which may directly impact their occupations.

However, many awareness generating programs along with help from the local communities, state tourism authorities and NGOs have helped Rushikonda get its prestigious Blue Flag Certification. Many organizations in Visakhapatnam have been regularly conducting beach clean-up programs and have been working consciously to eradicate single-use plastic in daily use. For instance, the India Youth For Society (IYFS) along with the Clear Coast Campaign, supported by the Australian Aid, have been raising awareness about littering and its impact on the environment by cleaning the coastline of the city.

Since 2018, the MoEFCC has achieved remarkable results in environmental management of the 10 Blue Flag beaches, including the Rushikonda Beach. marine litter has been reduced by 85% and marine plastic has decreased to 78% from 2018 to 2021. There has been an increase in footfall for recreation activities by approximately 80%, resulting in economic development. Moreover, a number of alternate livelihood opportunities for 500 fishermen families by creating opportunities for them in pollution abatement, safety and services.

Photos taken from Pexels

Importance of Local Communities in Promoting Sustainable Tourism

Securing the Blue Flag is clearly a priority for nature conservation, ecological balance and sustainable development, which translates to sustainable tourism. Rushikonda Beach is a brilliant example of promoting sustainable tourism by protecting the environment with glocal (global and local) efforts. With the increasing power of social media and a digital world, ideas related to sustainable tourism are finding a place in the mainstream media. Such ideas can be used in contexts of other beaches in India and around the world as well.

The potential of SCBT to protect the environment and enhance the livelihoods of the local people should serve as a model for other destinations and demonstrate to key stakeholders–from tour operators to local governments and community members– the ways in which they too can be a part of a larger community effort that chooses sustainable ways of traveling and living.