India to kick off first Lighthouse Festival, as part of PM Modi’s tourism push

India’s First Lighthouse Festival is set to begin tomorrow. Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal will inaugurate the three day festival from the Fort Aguada Lighthouse in Panjim. The festival to be celebrated across all the lighthouses in the country is expected to transform these historic spots as tourist destinations. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Tourism, Shripad Naik and Goa’s Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte along with other senior officials are expected to be present on the occasion.

Sonowal, earlier launched a campaign ‘Lighthouse Heritage Tourism’ to transform 75 historic lighthouses into tourism spots. These lighthouses are being renovated with adequate facilities to attract tourists. The initiative aims to showcase the rich culture, significance, and allure of these magnificent structures whereby they can propel the prospect of tourism and power the local economy, an official press statement said.

Speaking on the occasion, Sonowal said, “It is a moment of great happiness for everyone in the team at the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways as we begin this historic Lighthouse festival across the country from tomorrow.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 75th episode of his flagship ‘Mann Ki Baat’, announced that India will be promoting ‘Lighthouse Tourism’. As part of the project, a total of 71 lighthouses were to be developed in order to strengthen lighthouse tourism in our country.

India has more than 180 lighthouses. Several of these are located on stunning beaches.

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