Part of Kochi Marina to be ready by next year: B Suman

Kochi, Oct 21 (UNI) A part of the proposed Kochi Marina is expected to be ready by the sixth India International Boat Show (IIBS) next year, Kerala Tourism Director B Suman said today.

Addressing a seminar here on 'Marine Tourism in India', organised as part of the ongoing IIBS 2006, Mr Suman said there was tremendous potential to develop marine tourism in India.

He said all our tourism-related activities had been limited to the land. There was a long coastline which had been neglected and developing this could open a new dimension to tourism. It would also add substantial value to the tourist economy, he added.

Mr Suman noted that there were increasing levels of disposable income among Indians, who were showing more interest in pursuing leisure activities.

Marine tourism was still evolving in the country and Kerala had decided to take the initiative for promoting it. As the sector was developing, facilities like marinas would come up and uniform policies could be formulated, he added.

On the proposed Kochi Marina, he said there had been some delay in it but he expressed hope that part of the Marina would be in place by the next India International Boat Show.

Earlier, Marina Committee of International Council of Marine Industries Association (ICOMIA) Secretary Y P Loke said that cruise ships, yachts, houseboats, games fishing, regattas, power boat, racing, diving, marine wild life, beach resorts and boat shows were among the various aspects of marine tourism.

While the US and Europe had developed marine tourism to a great extent, it was still in an initial stage in most Asian countries, barring Thailand, he said.

Briefing the economic benefits of marine tourism, Toby Allies of the British Marine Federation said this sector contributed more than one billion dollars to the British economy and gave employment to about 60,000 people.

Leader of Turkey-Goa Vasco da Gama International Yacht Rally Lodewiyk Brust said the Indian west coast had a tremendous potential for developing marine tourism. The sailing conditions were good between November and April, and there were good anchorages.

UNI ARC GKT SBA BD1621