Cruising Towards a Golden Future: The Promising Indian Cruise Tourism

“The journey is more important than the destination!” This underlying principle drives the Cruise ship market, setting it apart from regular holidays. A cruise is designed to make your journey memorable.

The Indian cruise market holds immense potential for growth, primarily due to its impressive coastline stretching over 7,500 kilometers. During the first Incredible India International Cruise Conference 2022 held in Mumbai last year, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Mr. Sarbananda Sonowal reaffirmed this fact. He highlighted several attractions that make India an excellent choice for cruise companies.

Global leaders have taken a keen interest in promoting cruise tourism in India, and the Ministry of Tourism and Ports, Shipping, and Waterways have collaborated to develop four theme-based coastal destination circuits. These circuits include the Gujarat Pilgrimage tours, East Coast- Heritage Tours, West Coast- Cultural And Scenic Tours, And South Coast- Ayurvedic Wellness Tours. These unique circuits attract tourists from India and around the world.

Charting the Course: Government Initiatives

The Government of India has formulated the Maritime Vision Document 2030, focusing on generating new possibilities for cruise tourism in the country. To cater to the expected rise in cruise traffic, seven major ports are being upgraded. Among them is the iconic sea-cruise terminal being built at BPX-Indira dock, set to be commissioned by July 2024. It will have the capacity to handle approximately two hundred ships every year.

Major Initiatives undertaken by the Government of India include:

Namami Gange Project: Efforts are underway to clean and rejuvenate rivers, boosting river-based tourism.

PM Gatishakti National Master Plan: This master plan aims to develop tourism-related infrastructure, with a focus on river tourism and shipping.

Swadesh Darshan Scheme: Ten projects under coastal thematic circuits worth 648.80 crore have been sanctioned.

Leading the Way: All Aboard for India’s Waters

All major cruise liners are gearing up to set sail in Indian waters. Union Minister G Kishan Reddy has championed this, leading to a surge in possibilities.

Italian cruise liner, Costa Cruise, is launching an exclusive program for India. The cruise will sail from Mumbai to Goa, Cochin, and Lakshadweep from November 4 to January 1, 2024. Moreover, Costa Serena will be the first-ever international cruise liner to dock at Lakshadweep’s Agatti island with a capacity of 3700 passengers. Additionally, Norwegian Cruises, MSC Cruises, and Royal Caribbean Cruise are among other global players venturing into India’s domestic tourism potential.

Setting Sail for Growth: Ambitious Targets

India aims to increase cruise passenger traffic from the current 0.4 million to 4 million. To achieve this, the Indian government has established a Task Force and a high-level advisory committee. Development and upgradation of cruise terminals are underway at six cruise ports: Cochin, New Mangalore, Vishakhapatnam, Chennai, Mormugao, and Mumbai.

The government has taken several other initiatives, such as providing e-visa facilities, removing ousting charges, granting priority berthing to cruise ships, infrastructure upgrades, and rationalizing port fees. These efforts have already led to a 5% increase in the river cruise market, solidifying cruise tourism as the golden goose of Indian tourism.