If the announcements and developments at the fourth Tourism Working Group of G20, being held in Goa, are to be considered an indicator, India is poised to take the lead in cruise tourism next.
The Union Minister for Culture, Tourism and DoNER, G. Kishan Reddy announced that plans afoot to enable sea-plane operations in India. For the same, the government plans to develop waterdromes at 16 locations.
According to Reddy, the central govt is also aiming to develop domestic and international cruise terminals at selected ports by 2023 while ensuring Blue Flag certifications for them. This, he said, will ‘support the blue economy’ in India and also promote sustainable form of tourism. The minister made these observations at the sidelines of the event.
The Ministry of Tourism, through the Central Financial Assistance Scheme, is supporting the development of cruise tourism infrastructure, including ports and terminals, light-houses, and the purchase of ferries for river cruise circuits, he shared.
The government is also working on the modernisation and upgradation of ports, rationalisation of port fees, removal of ousting charges, granting priority berthing to cruise ships, and providing e-visa facilities to further promote cruise tourism, said the minister.
To tap into India’s domestic tourism potential, MSC Cruises, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean Cruise and Costa will bring their respective vessels in India for the winter season. India’s cruise industry aims to increase the number of passengers from 0.2 million in 2016 to four million by 2041. Additionally, the sector’s revenue is projected to grow from INR 712 crore in 2016 to INR 35,500 crore by 2041.
This is in addition to the Ministry of Ports Shipping and Waterways working towards the development of dedicated terminals for cruise passengers and cruise vessels.Speaking numbers, Reddy highlighted the growth of cruise tourism in India, with cruise passenger traffic increasing from 1.26 lakhs in 2015-16 to 4.68 lakhs in 2019-20, and cruise vessel traffic increasing from 128 in 2015-16 to 451 in 2019-20.
To facilitate the growth of cruise tourism, a dedicated task force has been established by the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Shipping.
According to the minister, promotion of segments like coastal tourism through Beach tourism, Light-house tourism, and Cruise tourism, will also help communities such as fishing communities, to find other livelihood opportunities and supplement their existing income. The Minister also disclosed that the government has drawn up a programme for developing tourism in the land next to more than 75 light-houses.
Reddy also spoke about significant investments made through the Namami Ganga Mission, which aims to clean rivers and create potential for tourist activities such as cruise tourism. The Government has spent more than 4.3 billion USD (about INR 35,414 crore) to clean the rivers, he shared.
Speaking at a side event, ‘Making Cruise Tourism a Model for Sustainable and Responsible Travel’, Reddy said that India’s 7,500 km long coastline makes her a leader in the maritime sector. “Our rich maritime history is evident from the sphere of influence that India’s civilisation and culture has been able to create across Asia. It includes the kingdom of Champa in today’s Vietnam and also India’s trade with Africa through the port of Mombasa.”
With a clear vision for tapping the abundant resources, he stressed upon the significance of effective coordination among stakeholders, government bodies, and agencies to develop the cruise tourism sector.
Minister of State for Tourism, Shripad Yesso Naik, also shed light on the immense potential of cruise tourism and spoke about the tourism potential of Goa. The state, he said, has something for everyone from backpackers to a luxury traveller.
As the world eagerly anticipates the G20 Tourism Ministerial Meeting, the spotlight shines bright on the captivating realm of cruise tourism and the collective efforts of stakeholders, policymakers and communities arising out of it, said MoS for Tourism and Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shripad Yesso Naik. The Tourism Working Group meeting commences tomorrow in Goa with a side event on Cruise Tourism.
He touched upon the festivals of Goa such as the Goa Carnival, Sunburn festival which attract tourists from across the world and provide its visitors with unforgettable experiences. Cruise tourism, he said, “not only holds immense potential for Goa tourism but for the entire country as it provides employment opportunities, adds to tax revenue and fosters economic growth”.
Special sessions on gender balance in Cruise tourism, Developing India as a hub of Cruise Tourism and Global perspective on cruise Tourism by CLIA Global, Cochin Port Authority and Goa Tourism were also organised.
