‘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Statutory base: Marine Aids to Navigation Act, 2021 (repealed Lighthouse Act, 1927) [S3].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&reg=3&lang=1 — (tier 1)
[S2] 3rd Indian Lighthouse Festival Begins in Visakhapatnam — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2213132&reg=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&reg=3&lang=2 — (tier 1)