The 14th cruise vessel of 2011-12 called at New Mangalore Port on Wednesday.
Dr P. Tamilvanan, Chairman of New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT), said that 14 cruise vessels called at the port during the current fiscal. Of the 8,726 passengers from these vessels, 6,432 passengers visited various places in and around Mangalore during the period.
He said that calling of cruise vessels at New Mangalore Port is a boon to the tourism development of Karnataka in general, and Mangalore region in particular.
On Wednesday, the cruise vessel – m.v. Aida Diva – with 1,869 passengers and 607 crew members on board called at the port. Of them, 1,700 passengers opted for a ground tour in and around Mangalore. A majority of the passengers were from Germany.
Mr S. Gopalakrishna, Traffic Manager of NMPT, said that this cruise liner is in its repeated call to NMPT during the current financial year. Its first call during the current financial year was on November 12, 2011.
The 15th vessel of the current financial year, m.v. Seven Seas Voyager, will call at New Mangalore Port on March 23, he said.