the goan I network
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The first passenger vessel of the season ‘M V Nautica' with 658 passengers arrived at the cruise berth of Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) on Tuesday morning.
According to sources in MPT, the origin point of the vessel was in Abu Dhabi and reached Goa from Mumbai and will leave for New Mangalore port and finally Thailand. The ship arrived with 658 passengers, mostly European and American nationalities, giving a boost to cruise tourism in the State.
Another vessel is scheduled to arrive on November 20.
Speaking on the occasion, MPT Chairman I Jeyakumar told reporters that MPT has decreased the rates for cruise vessel by 67 percent and though it would result in little dip in the revenue, more cruise vessels could arrive in the State in the long run, giving a boost to the tourism industry.
"MPT planned to add one more cruise berth to boost cruise tourism and domestic cruise plying between Goa and Mumbai will commence by mid-December," he said.
Travel and Tourism Association of Goa president Savio Messias said sometimes passengers getting off the ship felt the place did not look nice with dirt and garbage around and it was instrumental to have a massive beautification drive from the port to the outside city on the lines of BRICS Summit, where the entire stretch was made beautiful.
Jerome Clement, traffic manager MPT, said this is the first vessel of the season and MPT will handle around 30 cruise liners with about 68,000 passengers. "MPT got support of Goa Tourism, which extended full support for traditional welcome as usual."
Laxmikant Vaigainkar, general manager of Goa Tourism, said tourists coming to Goa will help the economy of the State.
Vaigankar said that this year, MPT started a pre-paid taxi counter through the GTDC and they have kept their staff to help the tourists.
