One of the long-pending demands of tour operators and the hospitality industry in Visakhapatnam has finally received a major push. The State Cabinet on Thursday approved setting up beach shacks along the Visakhapatnam coast, similar to those in Goa, as a pilot project. The proposed beach shacks will be permitted to serve liquor and will operate between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. While tourism stakeholders have welcomed the announcement, representatives believe that the road to implementation will not be without challenges.

What Are Beach Shacks?

Beach shacks are temporary seaside structures built using eco-friendly materials that comply with Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms. Popular in Goa and several international beach destinations, these establishments function as open-air restaurants, equipped with seating, sunbeds and food & beverage facilities, including liquor service.

The main objective of beach shacks is to enhance the coastal tourism experience by offering visitors seaside dining, relaxation and entertainment facilities, attracting both domestic and international tourists.

Industry welcome

President of Andhra Pradesh Tourism Forum K. Vijay Mohan described the Cabinet approval as a long-awaited decision for the tourism sector. “This is not about turning Vizag into another Goa. It is about creating an alternative destination that can offer a unique coastal tourism experience,” Mr. Mohan said.

He expressed confidence that if implemented effectively, the project could attract tourists from Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries, including Russia. He also noted that the growing IT sector in many cities could contribute to the success of the initiative, with IT professionals seeking recreational options during weekends.

According to tourism stakeholders, a section of international tourists have been choosing destinations such as Sri Lanka after Goa in recent years, post COVID-19 pandemic, due to rising costs, overcrowding and a few other reasons. They feel that it could be an opportunity for Vizag to make itself as an alternative beach destination.

Challenges ahead

Industry representatives have highlighted several issues that need to be addressed before the project can become a reality.

One of the key concerns is the creation of viable liquor policy for the beach shacks. Questions also remain over the operational model, whether the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) will manage the facilities directly or whether they will be leased out to private operators.

Tour operators further stress the need for effective crowd management to ensure that the beach shacks do not become centres for nuisance or law & order issues.

Meanwhile, Environmentalists stress the need for proper waste management techniques before the project is rolled out. Wastewater generated by the establishments should be scientifically treated, while strict measures should be enforced to prevent littering and dumping of waste along the coastline. The ban on single-use plastics should also be rigorously implemented.

There is also an ongoing discussion regarding the location of the proposed shacks. Many stakeholders feel that developing the shacks in a designated zone rather than spreading them across multiple locations would make monitoring, waste management and regulatory compliance easier.

Political and social issues

Back in 2016, when the then TDP government proposed organising a ‘Beach Love Festival’ in Visakhapatnam around Valentine’s Day, faced strong opposition from the then opposition YSR Congress Party as well as several women organisations. Following widespread criticism, the government withdrew the proposal and assured that no activities perceived as disrespectful to women would be promoted. Even though the idea of beach shack has come for discussion many a times, it was criticised by the opposition, left and women organisations, raising concerns over the consequences of liquor-serving facilities along beaches.