With the resumption of passenger ferry service between India and Sri Lanka, southern districts of India have got a golden opportunity to boost the much-awaited economic growth.

The Tuticorin-Colombo ferry service, which began on June 13, marks the resumption of passenger service between the two countries after a gap of 30 years. The stated aim was to boost tourism and economic cooperation after the end of Sri Lanka's conflict.

The ferry is being operated twice a week. The ferry has a capacity to accommodate 1,044 passengers. Shipping services between the two countries were terminated after the halt of Rameswaram-Thalaimannar ferry service in the1980s.

Passenger service between Talaimannar and Rameswaram is also on the cards with officials stating that it would begin once the infrastructure is put in place on both sides, reported The Hindu.

According to G. Vasudevan, Director of Hotel Fortune Pandiyan in Madurai, who has been taking efforts to promote tourism in southern districts of India in the recent years, the ferry service offers scope for attracting three segments of people.

The first segment is traders who would like to increase commercial activities between the two countries.

The second is tourists, with a focus on visiting pilgrim sites. Tiruchendur, one of the six holy abodes of Lord Murugan, is likely to attract more tourists.

“Many Sri Lankan Tamils would like to trace their roots. They would like to visit the temples. A package tour covering various temples could be offered. Even Kerala could be included in package tours.” The third segment is the big purchasers from the island nation.

With a luggage load of 200 kilograms permitted in the ships, compared to 20-25 kg allowed in air planes, some would like to buy in bulk in India and sell them back home, The Hindu further stated.

Medical tourism should also be an area of focus as Madurai could boast of high quality yet affordable healthcare. While stating that tourist inflow had not yet increased since the ferry service began, Mr. Vasudevan said that tremendous potential did exist.

In order to tap the potential, a major awareness campaign and promotional activities should be undertaken in both India and Sri Lanka for tour operators and travel agents. He suggested sending a delegation from Travel Club, of which he is a past president, to Sri Lanka. To target high net worth individuals, a luxury cruise could be launched. It could stay at sea for two days instead of the present 11-hour ferry service.

Other stakeholders in tourism said that a global campaign should be kick-started to publicize the resumption of Indo-Sri Lanka ferry service as it had been halted over three decades back.

This campaign should focus on the budget tourists as the affluent sections were more likely to take the air trip. More quality accommodation should come up in Tuticorin for the tourists.

Madurai, Rameswaram and Kanyakumari could stand to gain from more passenger ferry services between the two countries.