Tripura Embraces Eco-Tourism with Development of New Waterway and Cruise Services

Published on November 22, 2025

The northeast state of Tripura is expanding the scope of its tourism industry and increasing its accessibility with two initiatives being undertaken with the support of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI). The addition of the Gomati-Meghna waterway, along with the cruise service on Dumbur Lake, is anticipated to support the tourism industry and provide access to visitors from overseas and the nearby cities and towns.

These initiatives are being implemented at the same time interest in visiting Tripura is increasing in the northeast tourism market. The state is home to diverse ecosystems, rich historical and cultural areas, and vast undeveloped regions. The new services will aid travellers in gaining access to the less crowded side of India. The updates on the projects were shared following a recently concluded review meeting presided by Union Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal, where officials discussed the status of projects on Inland Water Transport (IWT) in the northeastern states of India: Assam, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland and Meghalaya.

The Gomati–Meghna Waterway: Strengthening Regional Connectivity

Strengthening Regional Connectivity through the Gomati-Meghna waterway linkage project. This waterway will facilitate enhanced cargo and passenger movement for tourism. The waterway will improve tourist access to the region and expand the tourist products and services.

The Gomati-Meghna waterway will improve the tourism experience and promote leisure, scenic, and purpose-built cruises on the waterway and its banks. The artistic and vibrant communities bordering the banks and countryside will offer a unique tourism experience.

The enhanced connectivity will promote and simplify cross-border travel. Therefore, tourists can access both countries’ heritage and culturally significant sites. This transport development will promote water tourism and expect Tripura to become a unique water-based eco-tourism ( The observation and active use of a region’s natural environment, including the local flora and fauna) for boat travel on tourism. This waterway will enable untapped eco-tourism of the state’s wetlands and forests.

Embark on a New Travel Experience: Cruise Ship Services on Dumbur Lake

The waterway including Gomati-Meghna, is not the only water body that the state is developing for tourism in the state. The state government has also identified a cruise ship service on the beautiful Dumbur Lake for tourism development. Scenic Dumbur Lake has calm waters and beautiful natural surroundings. It is located within a hidden forest and hills location. Much of its beauty has long been inaccessible to local tourists, with the opening of a cruise service, complete accessibility to the area will be available.

Currently, there is the option to fish, boat, and have a picnic. The proposed cruise service on Dumbur Lake will be the first vessel on the lake, and will add luxury cruise options to the lake’s previously available activities. It is expected that this will attract cruise tourism and will complement the services of other international and domestic remote resorts. It is also expected that the service will add to the tourism attractions to the state.

Introducing a cruise service opens the doors for Tripura to engage in the flourishing market of water-based leisure activities, likely drawing those passionate about tranquil and nature-oriented travel. This will likely increase the demand for more developed local tourism services. The infrastructure of the local tourism services should boost employment, further stimulate the local economy, and improve overall economic well-being of the area.

Impact on Tourism and Economic Growth

These tourism projects, designed to improve travel within Tripura, add to the expected economic boost the state will experience, and particularly in the tourism and hospitality industries. This will stimulate the economy of the state by drawing in both domestic and international travellers and adding to a less commercialised area of the country. The building of the Gomati-Meghna and the cruise on Dumbur Lake will stimulate employment and commercial activity in the economy of the area.

Tripura has been recognised by the government along with the tourism authorities as a potential leader for eco-friendly tourism, that is, tourism which has a negligible adverse effect on the environment, for the northeastern region of India. The lake cruise service along with the waterway project initiatives, are sustainable and will help preserve the rest of the ecosystem for future usage.

Increased Development of the Tourism Sector in Tripura

With the projects in place, Tripura will be the leader of eco-friendly tourism and water travel in India. The state’s tourism structure, culture and the unblemished sights will attract tourists looking for something exciting as well as a place to relax.

Above all, the projects will benefit the tourism sector directly, along with new initiatives to enhance existing infrastructure, provide high-standard services and broaden available tourism activities. Increased efforts to advertise Tripura will help attract tourists from anywhere in the world. The rest of India will see the benefits of the current tourism structures in place. This will directly help the region in the country, India, that is, the northeast.

Conclusion

The recent cruise service on Dumbur Lake and the development of the Gomati-Meghna waterway open a new chapter for Tripura tourism and augment the state’s potential as a developing tourism growth pole in the country. With enhanced natural beauty, water-based tourism, and a plethora of cultural heritage, Tripura will cater to a segment of the travellers looking for a peaceful, serene and off-the-road tourism experience. The cruise and waterway development projects signify the IWAI’s commitment to developing the tourism potential in the northeastern states of India, where Tripura will continue to prosper as one of the highly sought-after tourist destinations.