On July 31, Tourism Minister K.J. George directed the Department of Tourism to initiate consultations with major cruise companies, paving the way for cruise tourism in the state. As a result, Waterways Leisure Tourism Limited has given in-principle approval to start cruise services from Mangaluru, following a meeting with Dr. Ram Prasath Manohar, IAS, Secretary of the Department of Tourism, in Mumbai. The meeting, which included discussions with Jürgen Bailom, President and CEO of the company, and Bharat Acharya, Associate Director of Port Operations, focused on the infrastructure and operational requirements for cruise services in Mangaluru.
The company representatives stressed the need for a comprehensive market study to understand tourist demand and commercial possibilities in the Mangaluru coastal region. They suggested creating a special promotional strategy to introduce the region to domestic and international tourists. Next month, the company’s technical team will visit Mangaluru to conduct a site inspection and assess the port infrastructure, tourism potential, and operational feasibility.
Meanwhile, a team of senior officials from the Department of Tourism visited the Mumbai International Cruise Terminal to study its facilities and operational system. Based on this study, Dr. Ram Prasad Manohar has directed officials to undertake a preliminary feasibility study for developing an international standard cruise terminal in Mangaluru. This move is expected to promote cruise tourism in the state and boost the local economy.
Image for illustration purposes only
📰 Source: Vartha Bharati DK