Boat trips may be organised along the coast, with possible visits to fishing villages, or/and trolling.

Water sports such as waterskiing can not be carried out with present boats, having only 15 hp outboard motor power. Also snorkelling/diving is out of the question as visibility is less than ½ metre due to suspended sand caused by wave action on the low gradient sandy coast.

The Uppanar River affords the possibility of a short 20 minute trip with little to see in the way of birds (only common herons, kingfishers and doves) or vegetation. A small uninhabited island gives the option for a lunch stop.

Recommendations

It is suggested to market the across-the-river south beach at the hotels in Tranquebar, and to build a small, non-permanent sun-shade at the vegetation edge of the beach. Cool boxes should be made available from the hotel. Also coastal trips should be marketed along with trolling, while river trips could function as a not-so-interesting add-on.

22.       GUIDE SERVICES

Findings

There is only a limited need for guide services in Tranquebar as most visitors are not deeply interested in history, and those who are, are often arrive with their own chauffeur-guides, or are already reasonably informed on arrival.

General guide training should not be attempted for fear of giving potential trainees false hopes of employment.

Recommendations

Guide training could well be enacted for church personnel when (and if..) the churches and churchyards are opened to visitors. Staff at the Fort Museum should be supplied with information materials on history and exhibits, much as park rangers in many countries are trained both in enforcement and as guides.

If an agreement can be made with local schools as to Tranquebar school visits, teachers should be provided with sound information on Tranquebar in printed formats.

Guide training is always difficult, as different visitors have widely varying interests and objectives, so guides most often invent themselves as guides. A listing of persons with general and specific knowledge of history, religions, populations, agriculture, fishing, nature etc willing and competent to act as guides could be compiled by the hotels.