Parliament Question: Promotion of Cruise Tourism

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†219 ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025 PROMOTION OF CRUISE TOURISM †219. SHRI ARUN GOVIL: SHRI LUMBARAM CHOUDHARY: SHRI KOTA SRINIVASA POOJARY: SHRI DINESHBHAI MAKWANA: SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO: SHRI DILIP SAIKIA: SHRI PRAVEEN PATEL: SHRI MANOJ TIWARI: SHRI BIBHU PRASAD TARAI: DR. HEMANT VISHNU SAVARA: Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state: (a) the details of the steps undertaken by the Government to boost the cruise tourism in the country; (b) the details of Cruise Bharat Mission along with the manner in which this mission is being implemented; (c) the role of Cruise Bharat Mission in boosting the tremendous potential of cruise tourism in the country particularly in terms of international arrivals, employment generation and economic growth; (d) whether the Government has determined the role of North-Eastern States in enhancing cruise tourism in the country and if so, the details thereof; (e) whether the Government has any plan to start cruise from Prayagraj to Varanasi for tourist; (f) whether the Government proposes to integrate cruise tourism with regional and heritage tourism circuits, including those in the Delhi- NCR region and if so, the details thereof; (g) whether any promotional campaigns or infrastructural initiatives are being planned to connect inland cities like Delhi with major cruise ports through multi-modal tourism and if so, the details along with current status thereof; and(h) whether the Government has any plans to include coastal area of Maharashtra and Palghar for cruise tourism development and if so, the details thereof along with effort made during the last five years? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT) (a) to (h): Development and promotion of tourist destinations and products, including cruise tourism is undertaken by the respective State Government/Union Territory (UT) Administration. The Ministry complements the efforts of States/UTs through various schemes and initiatives. Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) to the Central Government Agencies for development of tourism, including Cruise Tourism and Cruising along rivers on receipt of complete proposals under the Scheme of ‘Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development’. In addition, Ministry of Tourism has identified Coastal Circuit as one of the fifteen thematic circuits for development under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme. The list of projects sanctioned under these schemes in various states is given in Annexure. As conveyed by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), the following steps/initiatives have been undertaken by the Government for the promotion of cruise tourism in the country: (i) For berthing, cruise vessels are given priority over cargo vessels. (ii) Rationalized cruise tariff has been introduced in terms of standard port charges and a nominal passenger head tax. Further, provision of discount ranging from 10% to 30% based on volume of their calls is also provided for in Port Tariff. (iii) Removal of ousting charges to attract cruise vessels. (iv) Cabotage has been waived for foreign cruise vessels. This relaxation allows foreign cruise ships to transport Indian Nationals from one Indian Port to another Indian Port during its domestic leg. (v) E-Visa and on-arrival visa facilities have been extended. (vi) Conditional IGST exemption has been approved for foreign flag foreign going vessels when it converts to coastal run, subject to its re-conversion to foreign going vessels within six months.(vii) Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for uniform & pre-defined services by various stakeholders like Ports, Customs, Immigration, CISF, Port Health, Cruise agent, Cruise Terminal Operators, State Government, Tourism Boards, etc. has been implemented. (viii) Single e-Landing Card has been introduced which is valid for all ports in cruise itinerary. (ix) Cruise Bharat Mission (CBM) has been launched in September, 2024 with the aim to provide whole of government approach by involving various Central and State Government agencies. CBM provides for a framework for inter-ministerial approach for crafting interventions along policy, regulatory, and other aspects governing cruise sector and enable responsible involvement of all regulatory agencies, such as Customs, Immigration, CISF, State Tourism Departments, State Maritime Agencies, District Administrations, and local police. MoPSW has also conveyed that to accelerate the holistic development of Inland Waterway Transport in the country leading to enhanced cargo, passenger movement and river cruise tourism with active association of States, an Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC) has been set up under the Chairmanship of Hon'ble Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways with representatives from the State Governments/Union Territories for the comprehensive development of National Waterways, other Inland waterways and the associated ecosystem. During first meeting of the IWDC held on 8th January 2024, a roadmap for development of River Cruise tourism in India was launched. *******ANNEXURE STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (h) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†219 ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025 REGARDING PROMOTION OF CRUISE TOURISM RAISED BY SHRI ARUN GOVIL, SHRI LUMBARAM CHOUDHARY, SHRI KOTA SRINIVASA POOJARY, SHRI DINESHBHAI MAKWANA, SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO, SHRI DILIP SAIKIA, SHRI PRAVEEN PATEL, SHRI MANOJ TIWARI, SHRI BIBHU PRASAD TARAI AND DR. HEMANT VISHNU SAVARA List of Projects sanctioned for infrastructure development at Ports and Waterways under the scheme of Assistance to Central Agencies (Rs. in Lakh) S. States/ Year Name of Projects Implementing Amount No. UTs Agency Sanctioned 1 Tamil 2012-13 Cruise Passenger Chennai Port 1724.66 Nadu Facilities Centre in Trust the existing Passenger Terminal at Chennai Port. 2 Goa 2014-15 Cruise Terminal M ormugao 879.04 Building at Port trust Mormugao Port Trust 3 Kerala 2016-17 Development of a Cochin Port 901.00 Walkway/Promena Trust de on Willingdon Island, Cochin, Kerala 4 Kerala 2016-17 Central Financial Cochin Port 2141.00 Assistance for Trust upgrading of Births & Backup area of Ernakulam Wharf 5 Maharash 2016-17 Central Financial Mumbai Port 1500.00 tra Assistance to trust Mumbai Port Trust for Development of Kanoji AngreLighthouse as a tourist Destination 6 Maharash 2017-18 Up-gradation Mumbai Port 1250.00 tra /modernization to Trust International Cruise terminal at Indira Dock, Mumbai. 7 Goa 2018-19 Improvement of Mormugao 1316.40 immigration Port trust facility and deepening of existing cruise berth at Mormougao 8 Kerala 2018-19 Developing Cochin Port 120.79 infrastructure at Trust Cochin Port Cruise Terminal. 9 Kerala 2018-19 Creation of Cochin Port 466.47 additional tourism Trust facilities at the Cochin Port Trust Walkway 10 Andhra 2018-19 Construction of Visakhapatn 3850.00 Pradesh Cruise-cum- am Port Trust Coastal Cargo Terminal at Channel berth area in Outer Harbour of Visakhapatnam Port 11 Kerala 2019-20 CFA for Cochin Port 1029.70 Development of Trust Additional infrastructure in the new Cochin Port Trust Terminal12. Goa 2021-22 Creation of Mormugao 5000.00 facilities for Port Trust International and Domestic Cruise Vessels at Mormugao Port, Goa by Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) 13. Maharash 2021-22 Upgradation/Moder Mumbai Port 3750.00 tra nisation to Trust International Cruise Terminal at Indira Dock, Mumbai Port Trust Total 23929.06 List of Projects sanctioned for Coastal Circuit and Cruise Project under Swadesh Darshan Scheme (Amount in ₹ crore) S. Name of Year Project Name Amount No. State Sanctioned 1. Andhra 2014-15 Development of Circuit at 67.83 Pradesh Kakinada - Hope Island - Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary - Passarlapudi - Aduru - S Yanam - Kotipally 2. Andhra 2015-16 Development of Nellore, 49.55 Pradesh Pulikat Lake, Ubblamadugu water falls, Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary, Mypadu Beach, Ramatheertham 3. Puducherry 2015-16 Development of Dubrayapet, 58.44 Arikamedu China Veerampattinam, Chunnabmar, Nallavadu, Manapet, Kalapet, French Quarter, Tamil Quarter and Yanam 4. West Bengal 2015-16 Development of Beach Circuit: 67.99 Udaipur- Digha- Shankarpur- Tajpur- Mandarmani- Fraserganj- Bakkhlai-Henry Island5. Maharashtra 2015-16 Development of Sindhudurg 19.06 Coastal Circuit (Shiroda Beach, Sagareshwar, Tarkarli, Vijaydurg (Beach & Creek), Devgad (Fort & Beach), Mitbhav, Tondavali, Mocehmad and Nivati Fort). 6. Goa 2016-17 Development of Sinquerim-Baga, 97.65 Anjuna-Vagator, Morjim-Keri, Aguada Fort and Aguada Jail. 7. Odisha 2016-17 Development of Gopalpur, 70.82 Barkul, Satapada and Tampara. 8. Andaman & 2016-17 Development of Long Island- 27.57 Nicobar Ross Smith Island- Neil Island- Islands Havelock Island- Baratang Island-Port Blair. 9. Tamil Nadu 2016-17 Development of Chennai- 73.13 Mamamallapuram– Rameshwaram– Kulasekaranpattinam– Kanyakumari 10. Goa 2017-18 Development of Rua De 99.35 Orum Creek – Don Paula –Colva - Benaulim 11. Kerala 2018-19 Development of Malanad 57.35 Malabar Cruise Tourism Project Total 688.74 **********