NEW DELHI: Cruise tourism in India has hit a new high with footfall touching 4.7 lakh in 2023-24, higher than the pre-pandemic period. Interestingly, govt data showed that the share of domestic tourists had increased by almost 85% compared to 2019-20, indicating how domestic cruise tourism is becoming popular in the country.
As per govt data, the share of domestic and international cruise tourists was almost 50-50 in 2019-20 when the total footfall was a little over 4.2 lakh.During the pandemic year, there was no footfall as services stopped. In 2021-22, domestic cruise footfall revived, but there were no international tourists.
Data showed that while domestic cruise footfall increased to almost 4 lakh in 2022-23, the number of international tourists was barely 29,026. In the last financial year, international tourist footfall increased more than three-fold to touch 98,344. “There is a huge opportunity in this sector. Several steps have been taken, including guaranteed berths to cruise ships over others, concessional and uniform rationalised berthing rate for all major ports, e-visa and on-arrival visa facilities and single e-landing card introduced that’s valid for all ports in cruise itinerary,” a source said.
Officials said there were regular calls by international cruise ships in Mumbai, Goa, New Mangaluru and Kochi ports. Domestic cruises were operational from Sep 2021 on Mumbai-Goa, Mumbai-Diu, Mumbai-Kochi, Mumbai-Lakshadweep, Mumbai-High Seas and Chennai-Vizag routes. Moreover, nine waterways are in operation for river cruise tourism, including Varanasi-Haldia stretch of Ganga and Dhubri-Sadiya stretch of Brahmaputra.
Govt also plans to develop theme-based tourist circuits like Gujarat pilgrimage tours, west coast cultural and scenic tours, south coast ayurvedic wellness tours and east coast heritage tours.
As per govt data, the share of domestic and international cruise tourists was almost 50-50 in 2019-20 when the total footfall was a little over 4.2 lakh.During the pandemic year, there was no footfall as services stopped. In 2021-22, domestic cruise footfall revived, but there were no international tourists.
Data showed that while domestic cruise footfall increased to almost 4 lakh in 2022-23, the number of international tourists was barely 29,026. In the last financial year, international tourist footfall increased more than three-fold to touch 98,344. “There is a huge opportunity in this sector. Several steps have been taken, including guaranteed berths to cruise ships over others, concessional and uniform rationalised berthing rate for all major ports, e-visa and on-arrival visa facilities and single e-landing card introduced that’s valid for all ports in cruise itinerary,” a source said.
Officials said there were regular calls by international cruise ships in Mumbai, Goa, New Mangaluru and Kochi ports. Domestic cruises were operational from Sep 2021 on Mumbai-Goa, Mumbai-Diu, Mumbai-Kochi, Mumbai-Lakshadweep, Mumbai-High Seas and Chennai-Vizag routes. Moreover, nine waterways are in operation for river cruise tourism, including Varanasi-Haldia stretch of Ganga and Dhubri-Sadiya stretch of Brahmaputra.
Govt also plans to develop theme-based tourist circuits like Gujarat pilgrimage tours, west coast cultural and scenic tours, south coast ayurvedic wellness tours and east coast heritage tours.