Lukewarm response to Yacht Festival

-    Organisers fail to give wide publicity 
-      Government spent `3 crore for the festival
-     Initially, the organisers announced 12 popular yachts are coming to participate in the event, but only eight arrived and two were not operated due to technical snags 

Visakhapatnam: The Vizag Yachting Festival failed to draw tourists particularly foreigners. The four-day festival concluded here on Sunday. Though the district administration allowed to witness the festival from 1 pm to 4 pm at IFR Jetty, there is no response from the citizens. Even on weekends, there is no turnout. In order to promote the tourism, Andhra Pradesh Tourism in association with the Visakhapatnam Port Trust conducted the Yachting Festival. Though the government has propagated at high stakes on the festival, there is no response from the lovers of the blue waters. There is response from the other states also.  

The government has spent over Rs 3 crore for the festival. Initially, the organisers announced 12 internationally popular yachts are coming to participate in the event, but only eight arrived and two were not operated due to technical snags. 

Though the initiative is good, the festival was conducted at a wrong time, in fact, there is no good publicity on the festival even in the other states, a senior official lamented. Instead of spending money for conducting such fests, the department should focus on developing the amenities like bio-toilets and accommodations to the tourists at tourist places in Visakhapatnam, the tourism official pointed out.

The denizens are not aware of the festival as the organisers had failed to give good publicity on the festival, said Rajesh Kumar, a leading pulses exporter opined. “Here the sea is choppy and rough. It is not suitable for water sports and rides. The yachts cannot be anchored in such a deep sea and also they cannot bear the force of the high currents. Even the four day trail run was conducted during the fest only very few enthusiastic had participated and took ride on the yachts,” said Will Fred Fernandes, captain-cum-mechanic from Mangalore works at Goa on a yacht (Chris Craft) in the fleet which was brought to the city for festival. 

Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Tourism Minister Bhooma Akhila Priya and District Collector Pravin Kumar, along with his family members, took a ride on the final day before the closing ceremony.