Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin flagged off the luxury cruise liner "Empress" from Chennai Port. The eleven-storey tourist vessel can accommodate up to two thousand passengers and about 800 crew members. The packages include going to the high seas from the city port and to return, and also to anchor at Puducherry and Visakhapatnam harbours. The three different packages consist of two, three and five days.
The vessel has a swimming pool, children's play area, gym, theatre and a multi-cuisine restaurant. This is considered the first luxury cruise liner to operate from the state, while state officials say a few other prominent operators have also shown interest in offering sea-based tourism services.
Jun 06, 2022
Ministry of Tourism Launches the National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism and Responsible Travel...
Ministry of Tourism, in partnership with the United Environment Program (UNEP) and Responsible Tourism Society of India (RTSOI) organized a national summit on developing sustainable and responsible tourist destinations in New Delhi. On this occasion, the Ministry of Tourism launched the national strategy for sustainable tourism and the responsible traveller campaign.
The strategy document identified the strategic pillars for the development of sustainable tourism like promoting environmental sustainability, protecting biodiversity, promoting economic sustainability, promoting socio-cultural sustainability, scheme for certification of sustainable tourism, IEC, and capacity building and governance.
The natural and manmade setting form the tourism products which the tourist enjoys lives, and relaxes. On the other hand, the close and direct relationship between visitors, host communities, and the local environment creates a sensitive situation, whereby tourism can be both very damaging and also very positive for sustainable development.