Sustainable tourism in Visakhapatnam: Travel beyond the checklist

Sustainable tourism is gaining traction in Visakhapatnam, with travelers opting for smaller groups, local participation, and a focus on ecosystems. Initiatives along the Eastern Ghats and the Visakhapatnam coast are building experiences around this approach through eco-stays, guided treks, tidepool walks, and scuba diving.

At Pravaham, an eco-stay near Araku, sustainability is embedded in construction using local resources like soil, hay, timber, and bamboo. The property's design also includes natural temperature regulation and a plant-based memory initiative to encourage guests to engage with the surroundings. Waste management and reduced single-use plastic usage are part of daily practices.

Trek leader Ravi Teja of EcoHikes has reduced group sizes from 30 to around 12, opting for gas stoves and home-cooked meals in the Eastern Ghats. He emphasizes the importance of respecting carrying capacities and warns against the negative impacts of social media on lesser-known landscapes.

The East Coast Conservation Team (ECCT) along Visakhapatnam's coast engages visitors in tidepool walks, providing a unique perspective on marine life. By limiting group sizes and teaching visitors not to disturb the ecosystem, the team hopes to inspire a sense of responsibility for marine conservation. Similarly, Platypus Escapes uses scuba diving as a means to introduce participants to the underwater world while incorporating conservation practices into the learning process.

Subhash Chandran, founder of the team, stresses the importance of recognizing one's role as a visitor in a delicate ecosystem.