The Hindu Business Line : Volvo Ocean Race: Kochi exempted from paying entry fee

Kochi, Feb. 26 Kerala’s tourism prospects have received a short in the arm with the organisers of the Volvo Ocean Race, exempting Kochi Port from paying the entry fee of €10 million for conducting the race here.

The exemption from paying the entry fee has been given as a special consideration for the port, Mr N. Ramachandran, Chairman of the Port, told Business Line.

Kochi will be the only stop-over port in India for the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09, the world’s premier offshore yacht race to be held here in December, he said.

“We intend to put a big show as it is going to be one of the prestigious events in India.

"The event will boost the efforts of the port management to project it as a premium cruise destination in India.

"It will further enhance Kochi’s standing as the hub of leisure sailing and cruising,” he said.

The Chairman said that preparations for the smooth conduct of the event are in full swing and the port is in the process of finalising the tendering formalities to appoint an event management company to manage the entire show.

Prior to the race, the port has to set up a race village covering 2.5 acres of land, which will be near the BTP jetty in Willingdon Island, to accommodate 50 race officials.

Work in this regard is already under the planning stage.

Tourism

A consortium of the port and tourism department has started holding discussions with potential business houses for the finalisation of the major sponsors for the event.

The Indian stop-over will come at the end of second leg of the race from Cape Town, and Kochi will be the first of the three new ports in Asia.

The seven yachts participating in the race will arrive in Kochi in December and will stay for 10 days before starting the next leg to Sentosa Island in Singapore.

The entire tourism industry in and around Kochi will benefit from the race and the city’s visibility will go up in the international arena, he added.

Volvo Ocean Race is considered to be one of the most demanding team sporting events.

Scheduled to start in Allicante in Spain in October, the race will cover a total 39,325 nautical miles and touch 12 ports including Kochi before finishing 9 months later in July 2009 at St Petersburg in Russia.

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