The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), Sarbananda Sonowal, launched the ‘Cruise Bharat Mission’ from the Mumbai port.
With an aim to give a boost to cruise tourism in the country, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, launched the ‘Cruise Bharat Mission’ from the Mumbai port.
The mission aims to propel country’s cruise tourism industry by doubling cruise passenger traffic within five years by 2029.
“The initiative aims to excel India’s vision to become a global hub for cruise tourism and promote the country as the leading global cruise destination,” Sonowal said after launching the initiative from onboard cruise ship ‘Empress’.
The Cruise India Mission will be implemented in three phases, beginning from October 1, 2024 up to March 31, 2029.
The Phase 1 (October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025) will focus on conducting studies, master planning, and forming cruise alliances with neighbouring countries. It will also modernise existing cruise terminals, marinas, and destinations to enhance the potential of cruise circuits.
The Phase 2 (October 1, 2025 – March 31, 2027) will concentrate on developing new cruise terminals, marinas, and destinations to activate high-potential cruise locations and circuits. Phase 3 (April 1, 2027 – March 31, 2029) will focus on integrating all cruise circuits across the Indian Subcontinent, marking the maturity of the cruise ecosystem while continuing the development of cruise terminals, marinas, and destinations.
Key performance targets across the phases include increasing sea cruise passengers from 0.5 million in Phase 1 to 1 million by Phase 3, with corresponding increases in sea cruise calls from 125 to 500. River cruise passengers will grow from 0.5 million in Phase 1 to 1.5 million by Phase 3. The number of international cruise terminals will expand from 2 in Phase 1 to 10 by Phase 3, while river cruise terminals will increase from 50 to 100. Similarly, marinas will grow from 1 to 5, and employment generated will rise from 0.1 million to 0.4 million by the final phase.
Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister, Sonowal said, “The ‘Cruise Bharat Mission’ is a watershed moment in the revamp of the cruise sector of India. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government is committed to harness the tremendous potential of Blue Economy of India. Cruise, with its tremendous potential in our country, has remained unexplored for long. With this visionary mission, it is aimed at transforming our maritime landscape and harness the potential of India’s vast coastline and waterways through cruise tourism.”
He further stated that the three phased mission will develop world class infrastructure and enable growth of cruise tourism and maritime trade.
“The mission aims to continuously work towards the development of world-class infrastructure and destinations while leveraging technology to provide a seamless experience for embarkation, disembarkation, and destination visits. It will promote the cultural, historical, and natural circuits of the Indian Subcontinent, ensuring inclusive and equitable growth for all stakeholders, including ports, cruise lines, vessel operators, tour operators, service providers, and local communities,” the Ministry said.
Additionally, the mission will enable the responsible involvement of all regulatory agencies such as Customs, Immigration, CISF, State Tourism Departments, State Maritime Agencies, District Administrations, and local police.
“The ‘Cruise Bharat Mission’ will further build on this as it aims to double volume of cruise calls from 254 in 2024 to 500 by 2030 and 1,100 by 2047. We are expecting rise in passengers from 4.6 lakh in 2024 to 5 million by 2047. The mission also aims to create 4 lakhs employment in the cruise sector during this period,” added Sonowal.
The Cruise India Mission targets three key cruise segments. First, the Ocean & Harbour Cruise segment encompasses ocean cruises, including deep-sea and coastal cruises, along with harbour-based yachting and sailing cruises. Second, the River & Inland Cruise segment focuses on river and inland cruises on canals, backwaters, creeks, and lakes. Lastly, the Island Cruise segment highlights inter-island cruises, lighthouse tours, live-aboard experiences, expedition cruises, and boutique cruises to lesser-known destinations.
