Cruise Tourism in India has potential to grow 10 fold says Shipping Minister

What is the News?

The Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways has said that the Indian cruise market has the potential to grow 10-fold over the next decade.

What is Cruise Tourism?

Cruise tourism can be defined as a luxurious form of travelling, involving an all-inclusive holiday on a cruise ship with a set and specific itinerary in which the cruise ship calls at several ports or cities.

Cruise Tourism Business in India

The cruise business had grown 35% year-on-year to 0.4 million in 2018-19 where around 200 ships had visited India that year but suffered serious financial setbacks during the pandemic.

However, this sector has the potential to grow 10-fold over the next decade driven by rising demand and disposable incomes.

What steps has the Government of India taken to promote Cruise Tourism?

Cruise Shipping Policy: It was approved by the Ministry of Shipping in 2008. The objective of the policy is to make India an attractive cruise tourism destination with state-of-the-art infrastructural and other facilities in various parts of the country.

Coastal Destination Circuits: Four theme-based coastal destination circuits such as Gujarat Pilgrimage tours, West Coast – Cultural and scenic tours, South Coast – Ayurvedic wellness tours and East Coast – Heritage tourism have been developed to activate cruise demand.

Upgradation and modernisation of Ports are being carried out in the country including the flagship New International Cruise terminal coming up in Mumbai.

The first India International Cruise Conference has been organized by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways. Strategies for developing India as a cruise hub.

Source: The post is based on the article “Cruise Tourism in India has potential to grow 10 fold says Shipping Minister” published in PIB on 14th May 2022.