A Brief History of Lakshadweep Tourism
'Lakshadweep' is a cluster of islands situated at a distance ranging from two hundred to four hundred and forty km., from the mainland. Its silvery sand beaches, luscious coconut groves, blue lagoons, coral reefs and marine wealth are a great attraction for tourists both domestic and international.
At the time there was no ship nor any mechanized vessels were operating between the Islands and mainland to carry even the local passengers. It was only in the year 1962 that the first boat 'M.V. Sea Fox' was introduced. It could carry just 12 persons. In the year 1974 a full-fledged all-weather ship, named M.V.Amindivi, joined the fleet changed the very face of the journey in the Islands.
The coming of Amindivi and two all-weather ships M.V. Bharat Seema and M.V. Tipu Sultan during 1988 created a favourable condition for the movement of tourists. Two small ships M.V. Minicoy & M.V. Amindivi joined the fleet recently has helped the movement of tourists further.
Recognizing vast tourism potential, the UT Administration took over the lands at Bangaram island in 1973. The land was taken on lease from the inhabitants by offering pay-backs apart from the lease amount. This beautiful Island lies at a distance of around 8 km from the north side of Agatti Island.
Bangaram is one of the uninhabited islands in the Lakshadweep islands group. A resort was built up therein. The resort was opened by the ‘Hotel Corporation of India Ltd’ in 1974 for international tourism.
The Hotel Corporation of India was looking after the affairs of Bangaram island resort up to 1982. The tourists on those days were coming by ship Amindivi. During 1978 tourists came by chartered ship 'M.S. Europa'.
In the absence of a permanent transport set-up, the flow of tourists was not encouraging. The Hotel Corporation of India wound up their business in 1982. The need for good accommodation became inevitable. It was then, the ITDC, which developed more facilities on the Island.
Thereafter, the tourism promotion and developments in the islands including the Bangaram resort were handled by an organization called SPORTS (Society for Promotion of Nature Tourism and Sports), which was set up in 1982. Finally, SPORTS became the custodians of the leased-out lands.
On 22nd October 1988, the Casino Group of hotels signed a lease deed with the SPORTS to operate the Bangaram Island Resort for five years. The Lakshadweep administration has gone ahead with Tourism promotion in the Islands of Kavaratti, Kadmat, Kalpeni and Minicoy were opened for domestic tourists in 1983.
The revenue derived by M/s. Casino Hotels from the Bangaram Resort ran to crores. Only a fraction of the total income was reached to the landowners, who belongs to the most impoverished and marginalized Scheduled Tribe, Lakshadweep. Allegations were made by the Islanders who claimed that “by periodic inducements to the corrupt officials of the 'SPORTS' management, M/s. Casino could go on extending the lease for nearly 22 years.
International tourists to Bangaram are brought by flight from the mainland to Agatti, the nearest Island to Bangaram which was inaugurated on 16 April 1988 for Dornier 228 type aircraft. Services for ATR-42 aircraft was started on 24 September 2010 connecting Agatti from Kochi. The Alliance Air now operates ATR-72-600 aircraft in the Bangalore-Cochin-Agatti sector.
'20 YEAR PERSPECTIVE PLAN:' On the request of the Department of Tourism, Government of India, the experts of The Tata Economic Consultancy Services, Chennai have studied the situations prevailing in the Lakshadweep Tourism front in every detail and have submitted their report in January 2003, with a 20 year perspective plan for Tourism Development in Lakshadweep Islands, to the Department. The report is too exhaustive and comprises of chapters and volumes. The full text of the studies are available on request. Although many years have elapsed thereafter, the points emphasized by them are still relevant. 'The Tata Consultancy Report'
The Airports Authority of India has received environmental clearance to extend the runway by constructing 336mtr towards Kalpatti island without connecting the two Islands.
REFERENCES:
The Legal Battle for Bangaram Resort, U.T. of Lakshadweep:
Allegations were made by the Islanders who claimed that “by periodic inducements to the corrupt officials of 'SPORTS', M/s. Casino could go on extending the lease for nearly 22 years. Full Text http://lakshadweepforum.com/blog/the-legal-battle-for-bangaram-resort-u-t-of-lakshadweep/
Judgment Full Text: Kerala High Court Society For The Promotion Of vs M/S.Hotel &Amp; Allied Trades … on 22 October, 2010 http://indiankanoon.org/doc/1909695/
