Tourism officials are looking to promote cruises to India in order to boost tourism to the country, according to reports.
The attraction of coastal locations such as Goa, Puducherry, Kochi and Visakhapatnam are being discussed by the tourism ministry as possible destinations for cruise travel, which officials hope will entice a rising number of visitors to India .
In order to attract tourists, the Government will look to transform docks situated in these coastal destinations, with plans to build a new range of hotels, resorts and restaurants to replace areas originally used for coal and cargo transportation.
Union Minister for Tourism and Culture, Ambika Soni, commented: "With the Auroville Village and the Aurobindo Ashram adding legacy and richness to make Puducherry as a complete tourism spot, this Union Territory will also be made a favourite destination for cruise tourism ."
Soni added that cruise locations such Vidharba offer travellers the chance to experience wildlife and bird sanctuaries, while others can take part in the Ganges experience as the government plans to add a number of activities to encourage cruise tourism .
According to data from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), India welcomed around 4 million foreign tourists in 2006.
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