Beach tourism plays an important role in a country’s economy and is crucial for coastal development. People around the world throng the beaches for recreational purposes like parasailing, windsurfing, kayaking, scuba diving, walking and sunbathing. Many beaches do not allow people to get into water during the night but evenings are the most enjoyable for those who visit the beaches to watch sunset, do star gazing or just to grab their dinner.
However, many beaches are not well maintained and dirty and polluted surroundings degrade and destroy beach habitat and can cause health risks to people. Human and animal waste, plastic, trash and pesticides are some commonly found garbage on Indian beaches that contaminate the sand and spoil the ambiance of beaches. There are many beach cleanup drives where many volunteers gather to comb coastlines to remove litter deposited by the tide, locals and tourists.
Eight beaches in India have been awarded the iconic Blue Flag certification, which is one of the most recognized awards for eco-friendly beaches, marinas and boating tourism. This certification promotes sustainable development in the areas of water quality, environmental education, safety and accessibility with clean and hygienic facilities and safe environment.
It is only reasonable to keep the beach environment neat and green in all possible ways. As far as solar energy is concerned, it is one of the cleanest forms of renewable energy available in abundance. Beaches receive plenty of direct sunlight to power the solar lights throughout the night. Many beaches require night patrolling to handle crimes against tourists and to prevent trespassing and antisocial activities after the permitted visiting hours.
There are shoreline structures like jetties, seawalls and groins that are built to protect the upland from sand movement, ocean waves and currents. Some beaches may have temporary beach huts where tourists stay overnight and beach shacks offer restaurant and bar services with sun beds on the sand. You may also see lifeguard towers to watch any threats from the sea and supervise swimmers to prevent drowning and other dangers.
All these structures need to well marked and well lit in order to draw people’s attention and to avoid accidents after sundown. It is challenging to pull underground cables or install electric poles in order to illuminate the beach and surrounding structures. Also, it is not quite practical to install conventional lights to power a beach considering the expense and technical difficulties. Solar lights are available in different designs and wattage and the installation and maintenance of these lights are very simple.
A plethora of decorative solar-powered lights are available in the market such as solar garden lights, string lights, deck lights, spot lights, fence lights, lanterns, wall lights, candles, umbrella lights, lawn lights, etc. Beach huts and shacks can create a great ambiance and make their customers feel welcome with the help of these lights without having to worry about increasing electricity bills.
Decorative solar lights can be used to illuminate the shacks and the surrounding area with a pleasant warm white ambiance. Solar flame torches are a very safe alternative to the traditional flame lights and these flickering lights can capture the attention of visitors from far. Solar pathway lights and step lights are an ideal choice for shack and hut entrances as they can effortlessly be installed with just basic tools and human resources.
Solar street light can be mounted on seawalls and lifeguard towers to provide sufficient lighting throughout the night. Since the beaches have people movement most times, installing motion sensor solar street lights does not make sense; however, integrated solar street lights with night-long illumination are the apt choice for beaches. Solar flood lights offer brightness in a broad and focused angle and can be a good option for lifeguard towers and with the help of a remote control, these lights can be switched on and off and the brightness can be adjusted.
Not all the beaches are packed with local crowd or tourists. Some of the most profoundly captivating yet secluded beaches are not well known tourist locations. These hidden beaches offer the best adventure experience and are perfect for those who desire to spend some time in solitude and those who want to take a break from the hustle and bustle of city life. However, such concealed areas could be dangerous and risky in the dark hours. Solar lights can be easily installed in these areas since they do not require grid electricity or wiring to illuminate the area.
India has many picturesque islands that can be reached from the harbor where there are ferries available for tourists. These islands are famous for their rock monoliths and white sand and can create a unique and alluring experience for tourists. Many islands have no access to grid electricity and eco-friendly solar power can be a lifesaver to ensure safety to both the locals and the tourists.
Of late, beach destination weddings are gaining a lot of popularity among couples and photographers as beaches are considered the perfect location to have an intimate wedding ceremony since they offer the most striking backdrop for a special day. Destination weddings can become quite expensive and there are some restrictions and also potential permits are required to conduct such weddings. Solar-powered lights along the coastline supply illumination and security that is essential for the guests without burning a hole in your wallet.
Solar lights are user friendly and weatherproof and designed to withstand harsh conditions like rain and salt spray from the sea that is carried by the wind. Solar energy is an environment friendly and a low cost form of renewable energy and can be included in tourism projects to illuminate seashores due to its multiple advantages. Solar lights installed at the beaches need only basic cleaning once in a while to clear off any dust or sand accumulated on the panels. With generous amount of sunlight, the lights can shine throughout the night and their dusk to dawn feature helps the lights to function automatically without any manual intervention.