• Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal led a stakeholders meeting in Vizhinjam, Kerala, to enhance lighthouse tourism, focusing on showcasing historical, cultural, and scenic confluence of lighthouses.

• The minister said the central government is planning to attract 25 lakh tourists to lighthouses in the country in the next five years.

• He highlighted the plan to transform these iconic maritime structures into vibrant tourist hotspots. 

• In India, we have 203 lighthouses, and after a detailed survey, we have already developed 75 lighthouses across the country, Sonowal said. 

• Earlier this year in February, PM Narendra Modi dedicated 75 lighthouses with tourist facilities in 10 states & UTs. The suggestion to develop these lighthouses was made by PM Narendra Modi during the 75th episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’.

• Under the Maritime India Vision 2030 (MIV 2030) initiative, the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL) is actively promoting lighthouse tourism across India. 

• This initiative aims to revitalise existing lighthouse facilities by repurposing them for alternative uses, including the development of heritage and maritime museums. 

• Notable transformations include lighthouses in Alleppey, Kannur, Vizhinjam, Thangasseri, Vypin in Kerala, Chennai in Tamil Nadu and Chandrabhaga in Odisha. 

• Furthermore, the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 seeks to develop lighthouses as tourist spots, fostering local economies & promoting cultural exchange.

• Steeped in rich maritime heritage, each lighthouse has its own story to tell and has tremendous tourism potential to be tapped.

Objectives for promoting lighthouse based tourism:

• Enhance and develop existing lighthouses and their surrounding areas into tourism destinations, maritime landmarks, and heritage precincts.

• Develop allied maritime infrastructure such as National Maritime Museums and National Lighthouse Museums.

• Explore various modes of project development, including Public-Private Partnership (PPP), by integrating commercially viable interventions at feasible locations to ensure project viability.

Advantages:

• Attract tourists globally and locally.

• Generate revenue for the government.

• Create employment opportunities for local communities.

• Boost commerce through the purchase and sale of goods and services.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)