Visitors to Rushikonda Beach Required to Pay Entry Fee

Visakhaptnam: The tourism department in an announcement has declared that starting from July 11, visitors at Rushikonda beach will be required to pay an entry fee of ₹20, a decision that may not be well-received by the public. However, children below the age of 10 will be exempt from this fee. Previously, there was no entry fee for visitors to this beach. Srinivas Pani, the regional director of the tourism department, explained that Rushikonda beach is one of the 12 beaches in the country to receive the prestigious 'Blue Flag' certification. He stated, "The monthly wages of beach cleaners, lifeguards, security guards, and other expenses amount to approximately ₹6 lakh per month, in addition to infrastructure maintenance. Several other Blue Flag beaches charge visitors around ₹20 to ₹50 for beach maintenance. The tourism department has recently called for tenders to develop Rushikonda beach, with an estimated budget of Rs 2.5 crore. However, currently, there are no revenue streams for the department apart from parking fees."