‘Lighthouse Tourism Records Fivefold Rise in a Decade’, says Sarbananda Sonowal at the Indian Lighthouse Festival 3.0 in Visakhapatnam

1. At a Glance

• Indian Lighthouse Festival 3.0 (10 Jan 2026) at Visakhapatnam marked a milestone in India's effort to convert navigational lighthouses into heritage-tourism assets under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) [1][2].
• Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal claimed a fivefold rise in lighthouse tourism footfall in a decade — from 4 lakh (2014) to ~16 lakh (FY 2023-24) at developed lighthouses [1][3].
• Relevant for UPSC under maritime heritage, blue economy, Sagarmala, coastal tourism, MoPSW schemes [3].

2. Why in the News

• 10 Jan 2026: Valedictory of two-day Indian Lighthouse Festival 3.0 at Visakhapatnam [1].
• Sonowal launched port infrastructure projects worth ₹230 crore at Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) — covering safety systems, ship repair, administrative and residential infrastructure [1].
• MoU between VPA and Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL) for Andhra Pradesh's first Lighthouse Museum at the Old Lighthouse area (3,156 sq m) within VPA premises [1].

3. Background & Evolution

• DGLL (under MoPSW) administers aids to navigation under the Lighthouse Act, 1927 (replaced by the Marine Aids to Navigation Act, 2021) [3].
• 2016: Ministry announced plan to develop 78 lighthouses as tourist centres [4].
• 2023: 1st Indian Lighthouse Festival held at Aguada Fort, Goa; spotlight on 75 historical sites for tourism [5].
• 2024: 2nd Indian Lighthouse Festival with Lighthouse Tourism Conclave [6].
• 2025: 3rd Global IALA (International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities) Council Session in Mumbai; Digital Portal for Lighthouse Tourism unveiled [7].
• 2026: 3rd edition at Visakhapatnam [1].

4. Core Static Facts

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) [1].
• Implementing Agency: Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL), HQ at NOIDA [3].
• Statutory base: Marine Aids to Navigation Act, 2021 (repealed Lighthouse Act, 1927) [3].
• Total lighthouses in India: 204, across a coastline of >7,500 km [3].
• Lighthouses developed for tourism: 75, with investment of ₹60 crore (amenities: museums, amphitheatres, children's parks) [3].
• Footfall: 4 lakh (2014) → 16 lakh (FY 2023-24) — >400% rise; >10 lakh already by Sept 2024 in FY 2024-25 [3].
• National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC), Lothal (Gujarat): includes a 77-m-high Lighthouse Museum, investment ₹266 crore [2].
• Visakhapatnam Lighthouse Museum land allotment: 3,156 sq m [1].
• Port infra package at VPA: ₹230 crore [1].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Economic

• Coastal tourism aligns with Blue Economy and Sagarmala Programme; lighthouse footfall growth signals revenue diversification for ports [3].
• ₹230 cr VPA package upgrades ship-repair and safety — supports Maritime India Vision 2030 [1].

Cultural / Heritage

• Lighthouses repositioned from purely functional aids to maritime heritage assets — feeds into NMHC, Lothal [2][3].
• AP's first Lighthouse Museum at Visakhapatnam strengthens east-coast heritage circuit [1].

Administrative

• DGLL–Port Authority MoU model demonstrates inter-agency convergence within MoPSW [1].
• Private-sector collaboration ensures international standards under DGLL oversight [3].

Scientific/Technological

• Digital Portal for Lighthouse Tourism launched at IALA Council, Mumbai 2025 — digitisation of heritage tourism [7].
• India hosted 3rd Global IALA Council Session, reflecting global standing in marine aids to navigation [7].

Environmental

• DGLL projects emphasise environmental sustainability alongside heritage conservation in coastal zones [3].

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• 2024: 2nd Indian Lighthouse Festival; Lighthouse Tourism Conclave 2024 [6].
• Dec 2024: PIB backgrounder "Lighthouse Tourism in India — A Beacon of Maritime Heritage" released [3].
• 2025: Sonowal inaugurates 3rd Global IALA Council Session, Mumbai; digital portal unveiled [7].
• 2025: Foundation laid for India's first riverine lighthouses on the Brahmaputra (NW-2) [8].
• 10 Jan 2026: Indian Lighthouse Festival 3.0 valedictory at Visakhapatnam; ₹230 cr VPA projects; AP's first Lighthouse Museum announced [1].

7. Prelims Hooks

• DGLL functions under Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (not Tourism, not Culture) [1].
• India has 204 lighthouses along a >7,500 km coastline [3].
• Marine Aids to Navigation Act, 2021 replaced the Lighthouse Act, 1927 [3].
• 1st Indian Lighthouse Festival held at Aguada Fort, Goa (2023) [5].
• 3rd Indian Lighthouse Festival held at Visakhapatnam (Jan 2026) [1].
• 75 lighthouses developed for tourism with ₹60 crore investment [3].
• Footfall rose from 4 lakh (2014) to 16 lakh (FY 2023-24) [3].
• National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) is at Lothal, Gujarat; includes 77-m Lighthouse Museum at ₹266 crore [2].
• VPA–DGLL MoU allotted 3,156 sq m for AP's first Lighthouse Museum [1].
• India hosted the 3rd Global IALA Council Session at Mumbai (2025) [7].
• India's first riverine lighthouses to come up on Brahmaputra (NW-2) [8].
• ₹230 crore port-infra projects launched at VPA, Visakhapatnam (Jan 2026) [1].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-I: Indian Heritage & Culture — preservation of maritime/built heritage.
• GS-III: Infrastructure (ports), Economy (tourism, blue economy).
• Likely stems:
• "Discuss how repurposing of lighthouses as heritage assets advances India's Blue Economy objectives."
• "Examine the institutional framework (DGLL, MoPSW, Sagarmala) driving coastal tourism in India."
• "The Marine Aids to Navigation Act, 2021 modernises a colonial-era legislation. Critically analyse."

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• Sagarmala Programme — overarching coastal development scheme.
• Maritime India Vision 2030 / Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 — strategic roadmap.
• National Maritime Heritage Complex, Lothal — flagship heritage project.
• Marine Aids to Navigation Act, 2021 — statutory framework.
• IALA — international body on aids to navigation (India is a member).
• Major Ports Authorities Act, 2021 — governs entities like VPA.
• National Waterways (NW-2 Brahmaputra) — riverine lighthouse linkage.
• Blue Economy framework / Draft Blue Economy Policy — economic context.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• DGLL is under MoPSW, NOT Ministry of Tourism or Ministry of Culture.
• NMHC is at Lothal (Gujarat), not at Visakhapatnam — confusion likely as both have lighthouse museums.
• The 1927 Lighthouse Act has been repealed by the 2021 Act; do not cite the old Act as in force.
• The Indian Lighthouse Festival (MoPSW) is distinct from any "Lighthouse" projects in housing (PMAY-U Light House Projects under MoHUA).
• "Fivefold" claim refers to footfall at 75 developed lighthouses, not all 204.