Now, cruise on Brahmaputra

Flagging off Charaidew, Chief Minister Gogoi recalled how Brahmaputra was a major waterway during the British period and was used to transport tea, timber, plywood and other products. ‘‘The river is the lifeline of Assam and needs to exploited fully so that maximum economic benefits could be drawn from it,’’ Gogoi said.

Giving details of the Brahmaputra cruise, Charaidew general manager Rishi Gupta said the boat touches several national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. ‘‘While it halts near Kaziranga for two nights, it also takes tourists to Nameri and Manas, two other national parks in Assam, apart from Majuli Island and the Ahom relics of Sivasagar,’’ Gupta said.

But Charaidew’s most interesting aspect is that its British promoter Andrew Brock is marketing it exclusively in England. ‘‘We have got very good bookings till the next season,’’ pointed out Gupta, adding that all the three 10-day trips that it has made have had tourists only from England.

Tourist inflow to Assam has also recorded a sharp rise in the past few years, with over 6,100 foreign tourists visiting the state in 2002-2003. The figure is expected to cross the 8,000-mark this year, with Charaidew alone promising to bring about 350 tourists, mostly British. The boat will contribute about Rs 75,000 every month to the state exchequer. Tourism-related activities on the Brahmaputra have already registered an upward trend with several floating restaurants and sightseeing vessels doing brisk business in the past three years.