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India.com
2 days ago
- Business
- India.com
Cruise Bharat Mission: India To Launch 51 River Cruise Circuits By 2027
New Delhi: The government on Monday said it plans to develop 51 new river cruise circuits on 47 national waterways across 14 states and three union territories (UTs) by 2027. With the launch of the Cruise Bharat Mission, the government aims to increase river cruise passengers from 0.5 million to 1.5 million, according to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. The mission focuses on upgrading cruise terminals, ports, and related infrastructure, promoting eco-friendly tourism practices using green vessels, and creating numerous employment opportunities in the cruise industry in the coming two years. The river cruise tourism sector in India has witnessed notable growth, with the number of river cruise voyages on National Waterways increasing from 371 in 2023-24 to 443 in 2024-25. This 19.4 per cent growth underscores the rising appeal and operational efficiency of river cruises in India's inland waterways. Cruise Tourism on National Waterways Gains Momentum with Infrastructure Boost National Waterways rise by 19.4% in 2024–25; 51 new cruise circuits planned across 14 states and 3 UTs by 2027 under Cruise Bharat Mission Read here: — PIB India (@PIB_India) July 21, 2025 Adding to this momentum, Viking Cruises has announced its entry into India's river cruise market with Viking Brahmaputra, an 80-guest vessel scheduled to begin operations in late 2027, signalling heightened interest and investment in India's river cruise tourism sector. Viking Brahmaputra, to be indigenously developed by Hooghly Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kolkata, will operate on National Waterway-2. In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision and guidance of Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is making strides in promoting river cruise tourism and developing sustainable water transport system in India. The sector has witnessed exceptional growth over the last 11 years. From just five vessels on three waterways in 2013–14, river cruise operations have expanded to 25 vessels across 13 national waterways in 2024–25. IWAI has recently signed agreements with several state governments to promote cruise tourism on National Waterways, including partnerships with the governments of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh for cruise tourism on River Narmada, with the Delhi government for operating ferries and cruises on the Yamuna River, and with the government of Jammu and Kashmir for sustainable tourism on the Jhelum, Ravi, and Chenab rivers. Besides, IWAI is developing dedicated cruise terminals on the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers, with three cruise terminals planned in Varanasi, Guwahati, Kolkata, and Patna. In the northeast, four more cruise terminals at Silghat, Biswanath Ghat, Neamati, and Guijan are proposed to be developed by 2027.
Hans India
2 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
51 new cruise circuits planned across 14 states and 3 UTs by 2027: Centre
New Delhi: The government on Monday said it plans to develop 51 new river cruise circuits on 47 national waterways across 14 states and three union territories (UTs) by 2027. With the launch of the Cruise Bharat Mission, the government aims to increase river cruise passengers from 0.5 million to 1.5 million, according to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. The mission focuses on upgrading cruise terminals, ports, and related infrastructure, promoting eco-friendly tourism practices using green vessels, and creating numerous employment opportunities in the cruise industry in the coming two years. The river cruise tourism sector in India has witnessed notable growth, with the number of river cruise voyages on National Waterways increasing from 371 in 2023-24 to 443 in 2024-25. This 19.4 per cent growth underscores the rising appeal and operational efficiency of river cruises in India's inland waterways. Adding to this momentum, Viking Cruises has announced its entry into India's river cruise market with Viking Brahmaputra, an 80-guest vessel scheduled to begin operations in late 2027, signalling heightened interest and investment in India's river cruise tourism sector. Viking Brahmaputra, to be indigenously developed by Hooghly Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kolkata, will operate on National Waterway-2. In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision and guidance of Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is making strides in promoting river cruise tourism and developing sustainable water transport system in India. The sector has witnessed exceptional growth over the last 11 years. From just five vessels on three waterways in 2013–14, river cruise operations have expanded to 25 vessels across 13 national waterways in 2024–25. IWAI has recently signed agreements with several state governments to promote cruise tourism on National Waterways, including partnerships with the governments of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh for cruise tourism on River Narmada, with the Delhi government for operating ferries and cruises on the Yamuna River, and with the government of Jammu and Kashmir for sustainable tourism on the Jhelum, Ravi, and Chenab rivers. Besides, IWAI is developing dedicated cruise terminals on the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers, with three cruise terminals planned in Varanasi, Guwahati, Kolkata, and Patna. In the northeast, four more cruise terminals at Silghat, Biswanath Ghat, Neamati, and Guijan are proposed to be developed by 2027.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
With growing disposable income, middle class is embracing cruise: Sarbananda Sonowal
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal says a five-fold surge in cruise passengers in India over the past decade has been fuelled by rising disposable incomes, a growing appetite for premium travel experiences and a greater awareness of cruise tourism. Edited excerpts from an interview with Shantanu Nandan Sharma: How realistic is the government's target of doubling the number of cruise passengers from about half a million now to 1 million by 2029? Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category PGDM Project Management Leadership Data Science MCA Degree Digital Marketing Product Management Public Policy Healthcare healthcare Finance Management MBA Artificial Intelligence Data Science Technology Design Thinking Cybersecurity Others Operations Management others CXO Data Analytics Skills you'll gain: Financial Analysis & Decision Making Quantitative & Analytical Skills Organizational Management & Leadership Innovation & Entrepreneurship Duration: 24 Months IMI Delhi Post Graduate Diploma in Management (Online) Starts on Sep 1, 2024 Get Details In 2013-14, the number of sea cruise passengers was only 84,000, which increased to about 500,000 in the last financial year. This shows a growth of almost 500% in just 11 years, also reflecting on the future growth potential in the sector. In FY2024-25, 93 international cruise vessels called at Indian ports. This huge growth has happened due to the concerted efforts of the government to provide a very good cruise tourism ecosystem in the country by bringing about changes in the policy that was dormant for decades, providing financial and tax incentives, adopting international best practices, creating cruise infrastructure, including world-class cruise terminals, and various other cruise-tourism friendly measures. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 Most Beautiful Female Athletes in the World Click Here Have you noticed the trend of more upper middle-class Indians experiencing cruise tourism now? Cruise tourism is gaining strong traction among India's upper middle class segment. Growing disposable income at the hand of a burgeoning middle and upper middle class is enabling them to increasingly embrace cruise as a preferred leisure choice. This surge is driven by rising disposable incomes, growing aspirations for premium travel experiences and increased awareness of cruise holidays. The Maritime India Vision 2030 projects an eightfold expansion of the Indian cruise market by 2030, citing increasing demand from the middle and upper middle classes. Live Events But does India have enough new-age cruise terminals? There are six cruise terminals in Mumbai Port, Cochin, New Mangalore, Visakhapatnam, Chennai and Goa. The Mumbai Port international cruise terminal has been recently renovated, and the upgrade of the Goa Port cruise terminal is in progress. Further, cruise ships also visit the Andamans, Lakshadweep and Puducherry. Puducherry as a cruise destination had its first call only earlier this month. Also, India's river cruise tourism is witnessing robust growth, with 15 river cruise circuits operational across 13 National Waterways (NWs) spanning nine states. The number of NWs supporting river cruises has risen from just 3 in 2013-14 to 13 in 2024- 25, while luxury river cruise vessels have increased significantly from 3 to 25 during the same period. To boost inland water-based tourism, 51 additional cruise circuits have been identified on 47 NWs for development by 2027. Three world-class river cruise terminals are also planned, with construction already underway at Kolkata. Why are many cruise liners still hesitant to make Indian ports their home ports? The phenomenal growth of India's cruise sector is supported both by domestic and international ship calls. At present, Delhi-based Waterways Leisure Tourism Ltd has homeported one ship. Homeporting is a strategic decision of cruise liners, but our government has been proactively working on numerous aspects to make India a preferable destination.
Hans India
16-07-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Experts highlight long-term frameworks for sustainable port devpt
Visakhapatnam: Panel discussions centred on enhancing regional maritime cooperation, port efficiency, cruise tourism, and human resource development across the Bay of Bengal region were held on the second day of the BIMSTEC Ports Conclave in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday. Subject experts across various sessions offered insights into key issues related to maritime trade. The day began with a panel discussion on enhancing intra-regional trade, currently at just 7 percent. The session focused on the need to streamline customs procedures, eliminate regulatory bottlenecks, and address gaps in logistics infrastructure to facilitate seamless cargo movement and regional port efficiency. The following session highlighted the vast potential for cruise tourism in the BIMSTEC region, enriched by vibrant coastal ecosystems, rich cultural heritage, and diverse marine biodiversity. The platform focused on strategising future roadmaps for BIMSTEC port collaboration, synthesising insights from earlier sessions and outlining long-term frameworks for sustainable and efficient port development aligned with global standards and innovation goals. The final technical session of the day emphasised the importance of upskilling the maritime workforce, stressing public-private partnerships in maritime education, shipyard development, and port management to foster a competitive and future-ready talent pool. Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal visited Hindustan Shipyard Limited and later reviewed Dredging Corporation issues along with VPA chairperson M. Angamuthu.
The Hindu
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Day 2 of BIMSTEC Conclave focuses on maritime cooperation, tourism potential and port reforms
The second day of the 2nd BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) Ports Conclave featured high-level panel discussions on enhancing maritime cooperation, port efficiency, cruise tourism, and human resource development in the Bay of Bengal region. Subject experts moderated the sessions, offering insights into key regional challenges, while eminent speakers shared practical perspectives and solutions. The day opened with a session on boosting intra-regional trade—currently at just 7%—through streamlined customs, removal of regulatory hurdles, and improved logistics to ensure seamless cargo movement and port operations. A dedicated panel explored the vast potential for cruise tourism, focusing on collaborative promotion of cruise circuits, eco-tourism, and heritage-based coastal tourism, drawing on the region's rich biodiversity and cultural legacy. Another session outlined strategic roadmaps for BIMSTEC port collaboration, emphasizing sustainable development, innovation, and global best practices. The final technical session stressed the need to upskill the maritime workforce through public-private partnerships in maritime education, shipbuilding, and port management to build a competitive talent base. Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal visited Hindustan Shipyard in the morning and later reviewed key issues at the Dredging Corporation of India. Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) Chairperson M. Angamuthu also participated in the conclave.
