Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the inaugural Indian Lighthouse Festival on Saturday at the historic Fort Aguada, saying the festival aspires to transform historic lighthouses into tourist attractions through public-private partnership (PPP).
Sonowal went on to say that India should strive to be a leader in global maritime trade.
“We are modernizing 75 lighthouses…, the festival is aimed at rejuvenating the rich maritime history of India’s 75 iconic lighthouses and unraveling the illustrious stories to the world”, the Ports, Shipping and Waterways minister explained.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Tourism Shripad Naik, and Goa Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte were among those who attended the first session.
According to the minister, the government’s objective is to promote lighthouses as tourism attractions, to revitalize these historic landmarks, and to provide possibilities for local communities and companies.
According to an official release, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW) intends to use the Indian Lighthouse Festival to strengthen the foundation for the Public Private Partnership route to transform historic sites into world-class tourist destinations.
Sonowal previously launched the ‘Lighthouse Heritage Tourism’ program, which aims to turn 75 old lighthouses into tourist attractions.
In addition, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant stated at the ceremony that lighthouses are lights of hope and symbols of strength.
“Our coastal state Goa has played a vital role in India’s maritime history”, Sawant added.
Historic lighthouses are being renovated with suitable facilities, according to the statement. India’s 7,517-kilometer-long coastline is home to 203 lighthouses.
The three-day celebration, which begins September 23, will be held at all of the country’s lighthouses as part of a drive to turn these historic sites into tourism destinations.
Cultural exhibitions, workshops highlighting marine history and culture, classical performances, light and sound shows, beautiful evenings with star singers, cuisines of the coast, and community activities are among the attractions of India’s First Lighthouse Festival.
