There is much to be done before river tourism can take off in Assam, including acquiring more support from Government authorities .The sector that has great potential as a revenue earner, besides offering employment opportunities, can only grow if the Brahmaputra’s status as National Waterway 2 is truly realized.
This was conveyed by Hemanta Doley, a local entrepreneur whose group is all set to launch the first indigenously built river cruise vessel in Assam. Speaking at a press meet in the city today, the veteran of river tourism said that the Ministry of Shipping, Government of India, should do the needful to offer better support to enhance navigation on the Brahmaputra.
Underlining the prospect of river tourism in Assam, he said that there was scope for at least 25 more river cruise vessels to ply on the Brahamputra .Such cruises could serve domestic as well as foreign tourists and thus make a positive impact on the local economy, he noted.
The nascent industry, according to Doley, can be transformed into something much bigger provided adequate support was available.”Kerala has already shown the way... a Tourism center on its back waters has immensely contributed to the local empowerment,” he remarked.
Referring to the about-to-be-launched cruise vessel MV Manashputra, the entrepreneur said that it would not just be a luxurious mode of travel, but would have a range of services to offer to tourists with different needs.
Significantly, the vessel has been designed and fabricated in Guwahati, which he described as a first for the region.” We have been able to demonstrate that with some effort a river cruise ship can be built here with the aid of locally available human resource,” he asserted.
The vessel, measuring 44 meters in length and 8 meters in width, has been equipped with the latest navigational aids and safety devices. During the summer season it would be moored in Guwahati, but from October to April offer longer cruises connecting, Guwahati, Tezpur, Kaziranga, Majuli and Dibrugarh.There would be flexible tour packages available for the longer cruises.
Speaking to The Assam Tribune, another promoter of the project, Debajit Kr Borah said that the vessel would boast of the best in amenities. Its interiors have been planned in a manner that space could be-arranged according to needs of the customers within a short time.Moreover,special attention has been given to safety issues with evacuation plans and drills.
The vessel has been described as eco-friendly, and no untreated waste would be released into the environment .It also has a solid-waste management plan in place.
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