Cruise services to soon be launched in Visakhapatnam

Adding to the many tourist attractions in Visakhapatnam would be the cruise services that are expected to be launched soon in the city.

In an initiative to boost tourism across the state, the government is planning to launch the cruise services on river Krishna, Visakhapatnam, Kakinada and Krishnapatnam ports. “One can have a boat ride while enjoying a party or celebrating birthdays or other events,’’ tourism department officials said.

Reviewing the progress of tourism projects recently, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu also apparently gave a green signal to the proposal of starting cruise services in the state.

It has also been learned that a few companies gave presentations to develop cruises with a seating capacity of 200 people in the proposed locations.

Apart from developing cruise services as major tourist attractions, the government is also looking at several other avenues to bolster the tourism industry in the state. The Chief Minister too, laid an emphasis on developing projects to attract tourists during the festive season. He said all the departments should coordinate with each other in order to reap the desired benefits.

Visakha Utsav and Araku Balloon Festival in Visakhapatnam, food and beach festivals, houseboats, and a World Spiritual Fest are a few of the major attractions that are lined up to attract the tourists to Andhra Pradesh.