Visakhapatnam: Union Ports and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday announced Andhra Pradesh's first Lighthouse Museum here, strengthening lighthouse-led tourism along India's eastern coast. Addressing at the valedictory session of the Indian Lighthouse Festival 3.0, Sonowal said the scale of public participation reflected the growing resonance of lighthouse tourism across the country, with the festival drawing over 50,000 visitors in two days.

"The first Lighthouse Museum of Andhra Pradesh in Vizag is envisioned as a centre for maritime education, heritage preservation and tourism promotion, further strengthening lighthouse-led tourism along India's eastern coast," he said. An agreement for the museum project was signed between the Visakhapatnam Port Authority and the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships, with land to be provided within the old Lighthouse area of the port premises.

He further said with the development of 75 lighthouses as tourism destinations across the country, the government plans to identify additional sites, including suitable locations in Andhra Pradesh.

Night-time illumination of lighthouses along the Vizag coast, along with interactive zones and exhibitions, emerged as major attractions during the festival.