Coastal Tourism Opportunities in Kerala A Study of Thrissur District

Coastal Tourism is based on a unique resource combination at the border of land and sea environments: sun, water, beaches, outstanding scenic views, rich biological diversity (birds, whales, corals etc), sea food and good transportation infrastructure. The principal aim of this paper is to assess the factors considered by the touristwhile visiting in coastal destination, analyze the facilities available in beachesand to identify the negative factors present in coastal tourist destinations in Thrissur district. Both primary and secondary data used for the study. The secondary data is collected from review of existing literatures and published sources such as information of enterprises, journals, articles, PhD thesis, websites etc. Primary data collected for this study from the tourists of the four costal tourism destinations located at Thrissur district such as Azhikode beach, Snehatheeram beach, Nattika beach, chettuva backwater and kottapuram backwater located at Thrissur district with the help of a pre-tested questionnaire. The study carried out with descriptive type of research. The survey conducted among the tourists of the six costal tourism destinations located at Thrissur district such as Munakkal beach, Snehatheeram beach, Nattika beach, chavakkad beach, chettuva Back water and Kottapuram Back water with the help of a pre-tested questionnaire. Purposive sampling method under non-random sampling techniques was adopted for the study. Data were collected from 60 samples respondents through questionnaires. The study revealed that ‘Affordability’ is the major factor considered by the tourists while they visit at coastal destinations. Beach pollution, Overcrowding and alcoholism are the major factors present in beache