Recommendations

The marketing of present attractions as well as the creation of new attractions, should be dependent on income and employment linked tourism developments in Tranquebar. Tourism should not be a goal by itself and should only be encouraged if it brings clear benefits to local populations.

13.       INCOME GENERATION AND EMPLOYMENT

Findings

Apart from income to the two hotels and the creation of minimal hotel employment, at which all senior positions are filled by outsiders, tourism has not benefited Tranquebar. Only on holidays, such as the last day of Pongal, will traders set up stalls next to of the Fort - on the beach and at the Fort side of the Parade Ground.

The Danish Bestseller Foundation pays for street cleaning within a small part of central Tranquebar. Workers are female, and overseen by male supervisors. The women are underpaid, hired on flimsy contracts not complying with basic Government standards (lowly pay, long work-days and no provision for leave or sick-days). This probably reflects a general Bestseller lack of moral principles in subcontracting.

The construction of the new hotel also creates a small amount of employment.

Recommendations

The creation of income and permanent employment in Tranquebar will be dependent on a development strategy identifying areas for the establishment of permanent and non-permanent stalls catering to excursionists, as well as an area for shops offering handicrafts and souvenirs. It is further recommended to allow beach restaurants, serving fresh sea-food in non-permanent facilities, such as found on the Vailankanni beach (see photo on following page).

The western side of the Parade ground is eminently suited for the establishment of stalls. Such stalls could partly mitigate the visual disturbance caused by a huge slogan-painted water tank - disfiguring the Fort and parade-ground area (and supplying no water to the intended recipients..). The tank was constructed as "aid" to Tranquebar by the Don Bosco Network after the December 2004 Tsunami. Also the open area within the Dansborg Fort could hold a limited number of non-permanent sales-outlets.