Identity Makeover: Reimagining Kanyakumari as a Regional Tourist Hub

Abstract

Kanyakumari, also known as Cape Comorin, is the southern-most tip of India. It is well known for its breath-taking sunrise and sunset, and it is considered sacred for the Triveni Sangamam, where the Indian ocean, the Arabian sea and the Bay of Bengal meet. Kanyakumari is also known for its religious and cultural identity, as the town offers a mix of Hindu and Christian cultures through their respective temples and churches. The town had undergone numerous changes with the construction of Vivekananda rock temple in 1972. This pre-historic pearl hunting town was transformed into a well-known tourist place and gained many visitors from all over the country when the railway station was built in 1975. Tourism development has produced great disparities in the standard of amenities provided for the visitors and the local population. In recent years, due to the increasing tourist footfall and lack of amenities for the locals, has caused the natives to migrate towards the neighboring town, Nagercoil, which is the district headquarters. As a result, Kanyakumari's distinctive culture and customs were get-ting lost, and the services rendered by the inhabitants to tourists declined. Kanyakumari as a district has much more tourist spots rather than its religious and cultural image, which are being missed out by the tourists, because of the lack of service sectors. This thesis empha-sizes on the identity make-over of the place that meets the demands of the growing tourism, by improving infrastructure, connection, accessibility, and assets to strengthen its value and character. Preserving the local culture and the natural environment within which tourism and communities interact can improve the quality of life of the host community and provides the visitors with an authentic high-quality experience. This will reduce the disparity of amenities and will lead to business development and boosting the local economy, controlling the out-migration of the locals, and making Kanyakumari as a regional tourist hub.