‘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) [S1][S2].
- 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 [S1][S3].
- Relevant for UPSC under maritime heritage, blue economy, Sagarmala, coastal tourism, MoPSW schemes [S3].
2. Why in the News
- 10 Jan 2026: Valedictory of two-day Indian Lighthouse Festival 3.0 at Visakhapatnam [S1].
- Sonowal launched port infrastructure projects worth ₹230 crore at Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) — covering safety systems, ship repair, administrative and residential infrastructure [S1].
- 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 [S1].
3. Background & Evolution
- DGLL (under MoPSW) administers aids to navigation under the Lighthouse Act, 1927 (replaced by the Marine Aids to Navigation Act, 2021) [S3].
- 2016: Ministry announced plan to develop 78 lighthouses as tourist centres [S4].
- 2023: 1st Indian Lighthouse Festival held at Aguada Fort, Goa; spotlight on 75 historical sites for tourism [S5].
- 2024: 2nd Indian Lighthouse Festival with Lighthouse Tourism Conclave [S6].
- 2025: 3rd Global IALA (International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities) Council Session in Mumbai; Digital Portal for Lighthouse Tourism unveiled [S7].
- 2026: 3rd edition at Visakhapatnam [S1].
4. Core Static Facts
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) [S1].
- Implementing Agency: Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL), HQ at NOIDA [S3].
- Statutory base: Marine Aids to Navigation Act, 2021 (repealed Lighthouse Act, 1927) [S3].
- Total lighthouses in India: 204, across a coastline of >7,500 km [S3].
- Lighthouses developed for tourism: 75, with investment of ₹60 crore (amenities: museums, amphitheatres, children's parks) [S3].
- Footfall: 4 lakh (2014) → 16 lakh (FY 2023-24) — >400% rise; >10 lakh already by Sept 2024 in FY 2024-25 [S3].
- National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC), Lothal (Gujarat): includes a 77-m-high Lighthouse Museum, investment ₹266 crore [S2].
- Visakhapatnam Lighthouse Museum land allotment: 3,156 sq m [S1].
- Port infra package at VPA: ₹230 crore [S1].
5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis
Economic - Coastal tourism aligns with Blue Economy and Sagarmala Programme; lighthouse footfall growth signals revenue diversification for ports [S3]. - ₹230 cr VPA package upgrades ship-repair and safety — supports Maritime India Vision 2030 [S1].
Cultural / Heritage - Lighthouses repositioned from purely functional aids to maritime heritage assets — feeds into NMHC, Lothal [S2][S3]. - AP's first Lighthouse Museum at Visakhapatnam strengthens east-coast heritage circuit [S1].
Administrative - DGLL–Port Authority MoU model demonstrates inter-agency convergence within MoPSW [S1]. - Private-sector collaboration ensures international standards under DGLL oversight [S3].
Scientific/Technological - Digital Portal for Lighthouse Tourism launched at IALA Council, Mumbai 2025 — digitisation of heritage tourism [S7]. - India hosted 3rd Global IALA Council Session, reflecting global standing in marine aids to navigation [S7].
Environmental - DGLL projects emphasise environmental sustainability alongside heritage conservation in coastal zones [S3].
6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)
- 2024: 2nd Indian Lighthouse Festival; Lighthouse Tourism Conclave 2024 [S6].
- Dec 2024: PIB backgrounder "Lighthouse Tourism in India — A Beacon of Maritime Heritage" released [S3].
- 2025: Sonowal inaugurates 3rd Global IALA Council Session, Mumbai; digital portal unveiled [S7].
- 2025: Foundation laid for India's first riverine lighthouses on the Brahmaputra (NW-2) [S8].
- 10 Jan 2026: Indian Lighthouse Festival 3.0 valedictory at Visakhapatnam; ₹230 cr VPA projects; AP's first Lighthouse Museum announced [S1].
7. Prelims Hooks
- DGLL functions under Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (not Tourism, not Culture) [S1].
- India has 204 lighthouses along a >7,500 km coastline [S3].
- Marine Aids to Navigation Act, 2021 replaced the Lighthouse Act, 1927 [S3].
- 1st Indian Lighthouse Festival held at Aguada Fort, Goa (2023) [S5].
- 3rd Indian Lighthouse Festival held at Visakhapatnam (Jan 2026) [S1].
- 75 lighthouses developed for tourism with ₹60 crore investment [S3].
- Footfall rose from 4 lakh (2014) to 16 lakh (FY 2023-24) [S3].
- National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) is at Lothal, Gujarat; includes 77-m Lighthouse Museum at ₹266 crore [S2].
- VPA–DGLL MoU allotted 3,156 sq m for AP's first Lighthouse Museum [S1].
- India hosted the 3rd Global IALA Council Session at Mumbai (2025) [S7].
- India's first riverine lighthouses to come up on Brahmaputra (NW-2) [S8].
- ₹230 crore port-infra projects launched at VPA, Visakhapatnam (Jan 2026) [S1].
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.
11. Sources
- [S1] 'Lighthouse Tourism Records Fivefold Rise in a Decade' — Sonowal, Lighthouse Festival 3.0 Visakhapatnam — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2213361®=3&lang=1 — (tier 1)
- [S2] 3rd Indian Lighthouse Festival Begins in Visakhapatnam — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2213132®=3&lang=2 — (tier 1)
- [S3] Lighthouse Tourism in India — A Beacon of Maritime Heritage (PIB backgrounder, Dec 2024) — https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2024/dec/doc20241227477301.pdf — (tier 1)
- [S4] Ministry of Shipping to develop 78 lighthouses as tourism centers — https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=128667 — (tier 1)
- [S5] India's First Lighthouse Festival opens in Goa — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1960187 — (tier 1)
- [S6] 2nd National Lighthouse Festival / Lighthouse Tourism Conclave 2024 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2066322 — (tier 1)
- [S7] Sonowal Inaugurates 3rd Global IALA Council Session, Mumbai; Digital Portal for Lighthouse Tourism — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2200943 — (tier 1)
- [S8] India's First Riverine Lighthouses on Brahmaputra (NW-2) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2235574®=3&lang=2 — (tier 1)