Plea to promote cruise excursions in Tamil Nadu

Chennai: Foreign cruise liners that call at Indian ports are received well. The tourists are provided a treat of folk dance, shows, stalls and shopping too. But, when they step out into the streets, they are most invariably confronted with unhygienic toilets and parking problems.

As the cruise itinerary is known well in advance the civic authorities could ensure the toilets were cleaned and the visiting tourists assisted in parking their vehicles. The State tourism body should be involved to play a pivotal role in arranging the city excursion facilities for a better tourist experience, said India Cruise Lines Association (INCLA).

At its second meeting in Mumbai, recently, the association wanted the subgroup on tourism to come out with two or three suitable routes that can be used to take the tourists around. These routes will be worked on for making them better and more tourism friendly.

The discussion at the second meeting of the core cruise and tourism committee of the INCLA also sought the Centre to appoint nodal officers for cruise operations at all cruise ports across the country.  Apart from urging all the ports to keep the water clean, it has been decided to urge the Union Shipping Ministry to represent the country at the Sea Trade cruise meeting.