Ganga cruise launched by PM a game changer for river tourism

The historic milestone achieved by India with the launch of the world’s longest river cruise is likely to change the tourism landscape of several cities and states that this cruise ship will pass through and also change the inland water-ways ecosystem throughout the country, generating more formal and permanent employment for thousands of people.

- DIBYENDU MONDAL

The tourism industry is ecstatic and confident that with the launch of this ultra-luxury river cruise, the luxury tourism sector of the country will get a major boost with a high footfall of foreign tourists in the country.

Officials from the Ministry of Shipping, speaking to The Sunday Guardian, expressed their happiness on the launch of this ambitious project as they believe that this will change the face of luxury tourism in India.

“The launch of this cruise was being planned for a very long time and had to be pushed back due to the Covid-19 pandemic. But now that it has been launched, we are extremely confident that this would change how river cruises are viewed in India. We are also exploring other river systems for similar cruises in the southern part of the country which will be another milestone development for inland waterways,” a senior official from the ministry told this newspaper.

The luxury cruise ship, MV Ganga Vilas was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday and will traverse 3,200 km, crossing 27 river systems, two countries and several states across India. The cruise is being described as the world’s longest river cruise that will sail for 51 days with a single ship.