Panaji, Dec 9 (IANS): Goa's only major port facility, the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT), is spending around Rs.48 crore to construct a dedicated berth for international cruise liners, even as the government here announced plans to promote the state as a cruise tourism destination.

While replying to a query by Goa's Congress MP Shantaram Naik, union minister Pon Radhakrishnan told the Rajya Sabha Monday that the money was being spent on construction of the cruise berthing facility as well as dredging of the seabed within the port area, which will enable cruise vessels up to half a kilometre in length, to dock at the MPT.

Radhakrishnan also said an additional grant of Rs.8.40 crore had also been allotted by the union tourism ministry to build a dedicated cruise terminal building at the port facility.

Goa attracts three million tourists annually and the state government is in the process of promoting it as an attractive cruise tourism destination.

Over 11,000 tourists embarked at the makeshift MPT cruise tourism jetty in the last financial year.