Bhubaneswar: An international cruise with a number of American and European tourists is all set to touch the state’s shores with the objective to visit the famous tourist sites across the state January 26.
As per plan, one of the major Cruise Liners, Silversea Cruises has included Odisha ports in its Asian expedition itinerary. The cruise is likely to arrive at the Paradip port sometime in January or February this year.
The tourists are scheduled to cover the ancient Buddhist heritage sites at Ratnagiri, Udayagiri and Lalitagiri of Jajpur districts. During the 14-night Asia Expedition voyage, the luxury cruise will leave the shores of Chennai and visit other ports like Vishakhapatnam, Sundarbans, Mahehkhali Island, St Martin Island (Bangladesh), and other ports of the south Asian countries besides visiting Odisha.
Senior members of the cruise company had earlier met Vishal Kumar Dev, state Tourism Secretary, and Forest department officials, in addition to the Additional Chief Secretary of Odisha government to discuss their visit and the prospects of cruise tourism in the state.
Tourism experts see this as a good opportunity to introduce cruise tourism in the state. Benjamine Simone, a veteran tour operator from the state, said, “These maiden calls will provide the much required boost to the cruise tourism in Odisha, especially the upcoming ports like Gopalpur and others. In Odisha, we have plenty to offer in the form of our rich natural and cultural heritage.”
The authorities of the liner is said to be very keen to include the port at Gopalpur On-Sea so that it can showcase Asia’s largest brackish water Chilka Lake, and witness the migratory birds, Irawadi dolphins as well the Olive Ridley turtles during this period in Puri and Ganjam district.