Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Lakshadweep has put the serene Indian archipelago in focus. Through the images posted on his social media accounts, PM Modi highlighted this cluster of inhabited uninhabited islands with pristine beaches, clean waters and stunning views is second to none to any beach destinations in the world. This region with one of the best literacy rates in the country could and should easily have been one of the biggest tourism attractions of the world.

Having been to Lakshadweep, I can vouch for every word PM Modi said. He rightly described the beauty of the islands as ‘stunning’ and tranquility as ‘mesmerising’. Walk along those beaches has been rightly stated by him as ‘pure bliss’ while anyone who’s a fan of deep sea diving or snorkelling would affirm those experiences at Lakshadweep are ‘exhilarating’. The islands immediately charms you with unmatched natural beauty. Words are not enough to describe the beautiful landscape and natural beauty.

Sadly, poor infrastructure, lack of connectivity and bad communications network have kept the region cut off from the mainland. The focus of previous regimes has not been on opening Lakshadweep for tourism. Having put the destination in focus by asking Indians to visit this gem within their country, there is huge expectation that PM Modi will ensure overall development of the islands.

For a destination to turn into a tourism hub, it has to be accessible. That what Lakshadweep lacks. There are only a few islands that can be visited by everyone and reaching those is not easy. Flight and ferry options are very limited. A simple search across travel booking platforms will yield little or no results if you were to plan a trip to Lakshadweep. Places of stay there are limited and a handful options that are available lack the world class options a destination needs.

The islands need to have both physical and digital connectivity for it to be visited by Indians. This could easily be the world’s most luxurious sustainable getaway with the right focus. Coral reefs here are a scenic delight that the world would throng to witness. By following the right approach, the destination can easily be developed keeping ecological concerns in mind. This tourism boost will also help the coir, coconut and local fish industry of islands. A member of almost every family from the islands is either working in mainland India or abroad. Local job opportunities beyond the usual government jobs will also help retain local talent within the islands.

PM Modi’s visit announcing slew of developmental measures have made Lakshadweep one of the most trending topics on social media platforms. He’s put the focus on this Indian gem. With right development and PM’s focus, Lakshadweep can turn into a global attraction and one of the most desired destinations.

END OF ARTICLE