Cruise ships may be allowed to ply in Bay of Bengal

The Centre is examining the issue of granting licences to cruise ships in the Bay of Bengal for plying along the Orissa coast to tap the immense potential for beach tourism in the state, according to Union tourism minister Renuka Choudhury.

Choudhury did an aerial survey of the entire Orissa coast on Tuesday.

At present, no cruise ship is coming to east coast.

"The government is examining the possibility if cruise travel can be promoted along the Orissa and Andhra coasts", she said.

She said, the government could identify 1000 acres of land along the beach for developing a special tourism project.

"Orissa is poised to take the leap to become the number one tourist destination in the country", the Union minister said.

Choudhury said after a three-day tour of the state that Orissa's culture, heritage, historic sites, wildlife and coastline had tremendous potential waiting to be explored.

"In fact, we have everything going for Orissa except flight connectivity. Once the airport expansion project here is completed, apex fares for Orissa will be introduced", she said.

The ministry would be shortly sending two teams, from the Indian Tourism Development Corporation and Hudco, to Orissa to study the potential and formulate plans for tourism projects.

Besides, the Union ministry will organise familiarisation tours for travel writers and tour operators, both international and national, encouraging them to explore the state to assess its potential.

The state government had to do a lot of work to do market Orissa outside, she said.

She said the Orissa government was refusing to participate in international travel fairs.

"I have told the chief minister that Orissa has to be present at the London Travel Mart, Dubai Travel mart and the Berlin Tourism event with own stall, CDs and literature," she stated.

"The need is to collectively showcase Orissa's potential and promote the entire state as a tourist destination", she added.