In a significant move towards enhancing India‘s inland waterways, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW) is gearing up for the inaugural ‘Inland Waterways Development Council‘ meeting on January 8, 2023, in Kolkata. This meeting, to be chaired by Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, will mark the launch of groundbreaking initiatives, including the River Cruise Tourism Roadmap 2047 as well as Harit Nauka – Guidelines for Green Transition of Inland Vessels.
According to MoPSW, the event will be an extensive platform featuring discussions on vital aspects such as private sector engagement, the promotion of eco-friendly vessels for passenger transportation and more. A pivotal focus will be on the economic advantages and sustainable practices linked with river cruise tourism. The inclusive discussions will emphasise the collaborative efforts required for the comprehensive development of inland waterways along with the flourishing sector of river cruise tourism.
Several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) are also expected to be signed, signifying collaborative efforts towards advancing inland waterways and associated sectors.
With this event at the forefront, the Ministry aims to significantly increase the modal share of Inland Water Transportation (IWT) from 2 per cent to 5 per cent, aligning with the goals outlined in Maritime India Vision 2030.
Popular destinations like Shimla, Manali, and Dharamshala observed an influx of tourists, countering rumours of traffic jams in Manali and other areas, which the Himachal CM dismissed as baseless. Recently, a few concerns fueled by circulating aerial images of congested hill roads, impacted hotel bookings particularly during the festive season in the state, as reported by local stakeholders.
In West Bengal, the Sagarmala Programme is actively driving maritime development with 62 projects valued at INR 16,300 Crores. Notably, 19 projects worth approximately INR 1,100 Crore have been successfully completed, while 43 projects, totaling around INR 15 thousand Crores, are at various stages of implementation. Among these initiatives, 11 projects, with a partial funding of around INR 650 Crore are making significant progress, said the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW). Six of these projects, valued at approximately INR 400 Crore, have reached completion, while the remaining five, worth INR 250 Crore, are in different phases of implementation.
Amid these advancements, various achievements in improving road connectivity and upgradation projects at ports showcase ongoing efforts toward enhancing safety, efficiency, and infrastructure development.
The establishment of the Inland Waterways Development Council in October 2023 by the Government of India further highlights the earnest commitment to advancing inland waterways and associated ecosystems, emphasising the significant role of states and union territories in this journey.
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Kerala Tourism is hosting an event during the third edition of Beypore International Water Festival (BIWF) to spotlight the country’s diverse handicraft heritage, aligning with the state’s push for sustainable and inclusive tourism.
The Responsible Tourism and Textile Art Festival, to be inaugurated by Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas, will run until December 30. It’s a showcase of art and craft traditions spanning 17 Indian states, featuring pottery, weaving, dress-making, and more—cherished skills passed down through generations.
Organised by Kerala’s Responsible Tourism Mission, the festival not only highlights Kerala’s esteemed handloom industry but also offers live demonstrations where artisans from various states display their crafts, fostering cultural exchange and appreciation.
“The craft festival has been conceived as an added feature to the Beypore international water festival when the ancient port town of Malabar is all set to emerge as a global tourism hub,” Riyas noted.
“Leveraging the fabulous handloom, handicraft, agricultural and cuisine traditions of different states of the country is important for responsible and sustainable tourism promotion. Apart from displaying a wide variety of textile traditions, the festival will have live demonstrations of the art and craft,” added RT Mission State Coordinator K. Rupeshkumar.
These include pictorial embossment, dyeing, textile printing, making of decorative clothes like tapestries and display of different types of handlooms and spinning equipment used by craftspeople from various states and sub-regions.
The expo will also have a wide range of items on sale: tourist souvenirs and agricultural as well as food products from various units of the State RT Mission — at affordable prices. Planned as an upfront initiative, the event will have conversations and workshops on preserving the craft traditions and leveraging them for promotion of tourism which will benefit the local communities, Rupeshkumar said.
While the Homestay and Caravan Tourism Policies have taken centre stage already, the state government is gearing up for the introduction of additional policies such as agro-eco tourism, wellness, and adventure, focusing on attracting investments while ensuring transparency and regulation in the tourism landscape. The Minister for Tourism, IT, E&C and Printing and Stationary, Rohan Khaunte shared all and more with ETTravelWorld. Read here.
A section on Kerala’s agricultural products at the expo, planned in association with Agrifarm Tourism Network units, will showcase an assortment of organic food products and spices, besides promoting the Village Experience packages from different districts. According to an official update, the entire spectrum of travel and tourism stakeholders including HATS, women RT clubs and adventure tourism agencies have extended their support to the event. Today also marks the inauguration of the highly anticipated Beypore International Water Festival (BIWF) by the Tourism Minister Riyas. This event is poised to attract global attention with its lineup of competitive water sports featuring participants from various countries, enhancing its international appeal.
Joining this festival are representatives from states such as Tamil Nadu, Assam, Karnataka, Gujarat, Telangana, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Puducherry, Odisha, Maharashtra and Jharkhand, amplifying the diversity and scale of this gathering.
BIWF, organised by the Department of Tourism in collaboration with the District Administration and District Tourism Promotion Council, strategically unfolds across prime locations like Beypore Marina Beach, Chaliyam Beach on the Chaliyar River banks, Nallur, and Beypore Port. The festival extends its reach to key spots like Kozhikode Beach, strategically aiming to draw both local and international business interest.
The festival launch commences with a bicycle rally from Kozhikode Beach to Beypore Beach at 7 am on December 26. It will also feature an array of cultural showcases, a sizable food festival, engaging adventure sports activities, and exclusive access to Navy and Coast Guard vessels.
The event roster boasts an international kite fest engaging participants from five countries, dinghy boat races, flyboard demonstrations, surf ski displays, flea markets, paramotoring, sailing regattas, and net throwing, among other activities.
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In a significant event aimed at boosting cruise tourism in India, the first-ever international cruise liner in India, Costa Serena is all set to begin its domestic sailings this season. This event is scheduled to take place in Mumbai today and is a part of the ‘Dekho Apna Desh‘ initiative, aimed at encouraging middle-class tourists to explore more domestic travel options.
The Costa cruise voyages are scheduled to commence on November 4 and will continue operating until January 1.
Costa Cruises is expected to ferry around 45,000 passengers during its upcoming two-month voyages. This development offers an international cruising experience for Indians and also marks a significant step towards establishing India as a premier cruise destination. It also underscores the growing confidence of international cruise liners in India’s burgeoning cruise potential.
Costa Cruises had previously announced the domestic sailings of Costa Serena in November and December 2023. The cruise liner boasts a passenger capacity of 3,780 individuals spread across its 14 decks and offers a diverse selection of 10 restaurants. To board these domestic sailings, passengers are required to present their Aadhar Card as part of the boarding process.
Launching the domestic sailings for Costa Serena today, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister Sonowal emphasised on the government’s commitment to putting India on the global cruising map. During the recently concluded Global Maritime India Summit 2023, discussions also revolved around the ambitious goal of attracting 50 million cruise passengers to India by 2047. Given India’s immense potential in the maritime sector, this target is easily achievable, said Sonowal.
This year, India also achieved a significant milestone with the launch of the world’s longest river cruise, MV Ganga Vilas, which embarked on a journey from Varanasi, traversing 27 riverfronts to reach Dibrugarh in Assam, with a portion of the route extending through Bangladesh. Notably, this journey attracted the interest of 32 Swiss nationals and piqued the curiosity of both international and domestic tourists about cruising on Indian rivers.
This partnership between TravClan and Resorts World Cruises aims to revolutionise cruise vacations in India and make them more affordable for all. Beyond the conventional sale of cruise packages, this partnership will look at crafting unforgettable moments, discovering uncharted territories and offer the experience of marine luxury to its patrons.
Speaking at the Global Maritime Summit, Minister Sonowal highlighted the cutting-edge infrastructure, advanced technology, and streamlined immigration procedures that have been put in place to enhance the cruise travel experience in India.In addition to Costa, three more international cruise liners will also begin their domestic sailings in India between November and December 2023.
To boost cruise tourism in India, the Government of India had entered into an agreement with these four globally renowned cruise lines, including Costa, setting a vision for 2041. According to a senior official from the Cochin Port Authority, these cruise ships collectively dominate 80 per cent of the cruise market.
A part of the Carnival Corporation & plc Group, Costa Cruises has 10 ships in service. With headquarters in Genoa and operations at global level, Costa sails mainly on routes in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Baltic Sea, the Caribbean, North and Central America, South America, the Arab Emirates and the Far East. Costa Cruises had pioneered the introduction of the Mumbai to Maldives itineraries in 2016 and sailed this itinerary until 2020, from Dec to March.
In India, GSA (General Sales Agent) for the Costa Cruises is Lotus Aero Enterprises, led and supervised by its Managing Director, Nalini Gupta.
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