A tourist information kiosk to help international tourists arriving at New Mangalore Port (NMP) was inaugurated at the port's cruise lounge on Thursday.
Deputy Commissioner Sasikant Senthil S inaugurated the centre set up by the Tourism Department and held discussions with New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) authorities on promoting tourism in the region.
The inauguration was also marked by the arrival of about 650 international tourists aboard cruise vessel AID Avita. They were welcomed with traditional Yakshagana and Chende performances.
NMPT Traffic Manager Y R Belagal, Tourism Assistant Director Uday Kumar Shetty, port staff and tour operators were present.
In the previous year, 30 cruise vessels had anchored at New Mangalore Port and more than 35,000 tourists from France, Germany, Russia, and other countries had visited places of tourism in and around Mangluru. AID Avita was the first vessel to call on the port in this fiscal.
Other cruise ships including `Celebrity', `Constellation', `Costa Neorviera', `Seven Seas Navigator', `Silver Shadow' and `Insignia' are expected to call on the New Mangalore Port in the future.
Udaykumar Shetty said the information centre is first of its kind in the country.
International tourists arriving at NMP will learn about places of attractions— Kadri Manjunatha Temple, Kudroli Gokarnanatha Temple, Mangaladevi, St Aloysius Chapel, Milagres Church, Sultan Bathery, Tannirbhavi beach, Kulashekara Cashew Factory, malls in the city, Thousand Pillar Basadi at Moodbidri, Soan’s Farm, and the K Shivaram Karanth Pilikula Nisargadhama.
Pre-paid taxi counters were also opened near the information centre, he added.
