Cruise tours to start in Ganga and Brahmaputra soon

The Ministry of Tourism has charted out a new ‘Aqua’ way to promote niche tourism in the country–the River Cruise. The Central government plans to showcase this niche product during the upcoming Tourism Investors’ Summit, which will be held later this month.   

The Working Group constituted to examine the modalities of cruise tours connecting religious places in the nation has indentified Eight Tourist Circuits along National Waterway 1, which is River Ganga and the National Waterway 2, which is on River Brahmaputra.    

On the National Waterway 1, five circuits –Allahabad Circuit, Varanasi Circuit, Patna Circuit, Bhagalpur Circuit and Kolkatta Circuit –have been identified and developed to promote River tourism. 

On National Waterway 2 that is River Brahmaputra, three circuits –Guwahati Circuit, Tezpur Circuit and Neemati Circuit– have been identified and are being developed.

These circuits will cover up to 10 tourists’ destinations which fall on the same river route. For instance, in Kolkatta circuit importance religious places related to all religions like Ganga Sagar, Belur Math, Dakshineshwari Temple, St Paul's Cathedral, Katra Masjid, within 20 kms from river banks will be covered through ferryboats.

“The coastline and inland waterways have enormous potential to develop cruise tourism, both international and domestic. To harness this, there is a need to develop necessary infrastructure facilities,” said a Tourism Ministry official.

The Tourism Ministry along with Shipping Ministry and state governments is developing tourist amenities at terminals, jetties, river fronts, ghats construction. The state governments are being asked to send detailed proposals to the Ministry of Tourism. “We are offering 100% support for the development of basic amenities and world class infrastructure near the River banks. Apart from civic authorities, NGOs are being roped in too for maintenance of areas of tourist interest,” added the official. 

The government has laid emphasis on the development of infrastructure which includes all weather navigable channels with requisite navigable aids and proper berthing facilities.  The state governments have also been told to ensure adequate medical facilities, including first aid and ambulance services, in and around the river banks.