Cruise service connecting Kochi-Colombo-Maldives expected to commence from Oct

A one-of-its-kind product that could give major boost to regional tourism in South Asia, a cruise ship linking Kochi with Colombo and Maldives is expected to commence operations from October this year. This information was given by G Kamala Vardhana Rao, Secretary –Tourism, Government of Kerala. He said that a Sri Lankan company has come forward to launch a cruise service with a capacity of 500 pax connecting the three ports.

The company has had discussions with Cochin Port Trust to work out modalities and concessions recently. A lot of Chinese and Japanese tourists who visit Sri Lanka and Maldives generally skip India. This cruise product might help Kerala to lure these tourists to their shores for couple of nights. Sri Lanka and Kerala had recently agreed to work closely to develop tourism circuits and undertake joint promotions.

Joint promotional activities will be conducted by Kerala and Sri Lanka to target travellers from big source markets like China, Germany and Russia. This will help in bringing more tourists to both these destinations. When asked about the long pending sea plane project, Rao said that the services are expected to re-commence from next month, coinciding with Onam festival season.

Source: http://www.hospitalitybizindia.com/detailNews.aspx?aid=21607&sid=1

A ferry to the Maldives in 30 hours

Travelling to the Maldives might just get a little more exciting with the government now considering starting a sea route facility to the smallest Asian country. The shipping ministry in order to boost tourism to and from the Maldives will run a passenger liner for travellers either from Cochin port or the Tuticorin port.

“We are examining the projects. We are in discussion with the Maldives government on the modalities for a ferry service and development of ports for trade and tourism,” said K Mohandas, secretary-shipping ministry. A delegation led by the secretary, shipping, along with chairpersons of Cochin and Tuticorin Port Trust, an official from DG Shipping and Shipping Corporation of India are currently visiting the Maldives.

The sea route to the Maldives is expected to take about 30 hours to travel. The cost parameters are still being studied. Government officials will visit the ports as well as the Maldives to understand the demand and the economic viability of the project. “At this stage, we don’t have any details about the cost and frequency of such a service to the Maldives. But after Sri Lanka, this is the second neighbouring country to which we want to provide easy access,” Mohandas added.

Last month, the shipping ministry started a sea route to Sri Lanka from the Tuticorin port. The shipping service, which runs twice a week, costs about $50 for a passenger, with travelling time of 12 hours. The ship called Scotia Prince with capacity to ferry 1,044 passengers is operated by Flemingo Liners.

The Maldives is towards south of Lakshadweep Islands where the Indian Navy had captured 28 Somali pirates in February this year. “The Indian Navy has been guarding the area very well ever since the last incident occurred. Security will not be an issue,” Mohandas said.

According to tourist arrival figures of the Maldives for 2009, China ranks fourth among the top 10 tourism destinations, with over 69,000 arrivals. India stands at the 10th position with over 15,800 tourists visiting the country. In 2009, the Maldives’ total tourist arrivals were 655,852.

Source: http://www.business-standard.com

India's first international passenger ferry service reached Colombo

Resuming the India-Sri Lanka passenger ferry service the first ship MV Scotia Prince arrived at the Colombo Port early today (14 ) morning after a 14 hour journey from the Tuticorin port in Tamil Nadu. The distance between Port of Tuticorn and Colombo is 280 nautical miles.

Ports and Highways Deputy Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardana and other Ministry officials were at the Colombo Port to welcome the ship and its passengers to Sri Lanka.

The vessel which will travel twice weekly on Wednesdays and Fridays and has a capacity of 1,040 passengers and carry 300 tonnes of cargo.

The ferry allows baggage for up to 100 kilograms per person as well as another 100 kilograms at a lower cost compared to air travelers.

Another boat, to start operating soon, is to be run by Sri Lanka's state-owned Ceylon Shipping Corporation.

The old ferry service stopped 30 years ago linked the Indian temple town of Rameshwaram to Mannar, a part of northern Sri Lanka heavily affected by the war.

Source:http://www.asiantribune.com

Ferry service between Maldives and other SAARC countries

The Maldivian government said that it would connect neighbouring countries including Sri Lanka and India to its growing ferry transport network, the Minivan News reported.

Quoting Minister for Transport and Communication Adhil Saleem it said “the government was engaged in discussions with South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to add its member countries to the Maldives Transportation Network, under phase two of the rollout of its ferry network.”

It was reported that there is currently no scheduled passenger ferry service operating between the Maldives and other SAARC countries, with travellers often forced to fly to their destinations in the Maldives. Minivan News understands that domestically all provinces have at least a skeletal ferry service in place, while the ministry’s statistics show that the new ferry transportation network had completed over 311,000 ferry trips since it began operation last year.

Source: http://print.dailymirror.lk/news