Plans afoot to boost Lighthouse Tourism in India: SarbanandaSonowal

Organised by the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships – an organisation under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), Govt of India, the meet was aimed at conceptualising and strategising to showcase the unique tourism potential of lighthouses as spots of historical, cultural and scenic confluence.

“More than 500,000 tourists visited the Lighthouses between April and June, 2024, validating the vision of transforming these iconic maritime structures into vibrant tourists hotspots as envisioned by PM Narendra Modi ji,” appraised the Union Minister Sarbananda  Sonowal. The new Sound and Light show in Vizhinijam as well as other facilities for tourists will be developed considering every aspect of convenience, especially for the elderly and specially abled people.

Guided by the visionary approach of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this meet underscored government’s commitment to promote lighthouse tourism and revitalise these iconic structures as vibrant tourist destinations, said the Union Minister SarbanandaSonowal.

The Stakeholders Meet aimed to showcase the unique tourism potential of lighthouses, emphasising their historical, cultural, and scenic value…Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister, SarbanandaSonowal, said, “Lighthouses, besides acting as marine guidance tool, are also beacon of rich historical accounts with potential to transform as centres of tourism..The ministry remains committed to revitalise the lighthouses in order to make way for economic development and celebration of cultural heritage of India’s coastline. The stakeholders meet was an attempt to further action to transform the Vizhinijam Lighthouse as a major tourist destination with unique Light & Sound show.”

The stakeholders meeting focused on strategies to transform the lighthouses into tourism facilities... The meet was also attended by the Minister of Tourism, Govt of Kerala, Adv PA Mohammed Riyas among other top officials.

To enhance the visitor experience, several tourism facilities have been developed at Vizhinjam Lighthouse

Under the visionary MIV 2030 initiative, the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL) is actively promoting lighthouse tourism across India. This initiative aims to revitalize existing lighthouse facilities by repurposing them for alternative uses, including the development of heritage and maritime museums. Notable transformations include lighthouses in Chennai- Alleppey, Kannur; Vizhinjam, Thangasseri, Vypin in Kerala &Chandrabhaga in Odisha. Furthermore, the Maritime AmritKaal Vision 2047 seeks to develop lighthouses as tourist spots, fostering local economies & promoting cultural exchange.