Cruise Bharat Mission hopes to have 10 lakh passengers by 2029

The Indian government has launched the Cruise Bharat Mission to boost cruise tourism in India. This five-year mission aims to attract one million cruise passengers and create 400,000 jobs by 2029. The mission includes several important measures, such as offering financial incentives, relaxing certain laws, and setting up a special fund to support the cruise industry.

The goal of the mission is to make India a major player in the global cruise tourism market. It will be carried out in three phases, with the final stage planned for 2029. By the end of Phase 3, the government wants to increase the number of sea cruise calls from 125 to 500, helping to grow the industry. The government also plans to connect different cruise circuits across India and nearby regions to make it easier for tourists to explore new destinations.

Stage 1 (2024-2025) will focus on studying market needs and understanding the best projects to support in the future. During this phase, the government will also research how to improve funding and regulations. The mission aims to build new cruise terminals, marinas, and tourist destinations between 2025 and 2027 to activate high-potential cruise areas.

By the time Phase 3 is complete, the number of river cruise passengers is expected to grow from 0.5 million to 1.5 million. The number of river cruise terminals will also rise from 50 to 100. Additionally, the number of international cruise terminals will increase from 2 to 10. The ministry plans to create 400,000 new jobs, bringing employment in the cruise industry from 100,000 to 400,000. The number of marinas will also increase from 1 to 5.

As part of the mission, the government will set up a special purpose vehicle (SPV) under the Indian Ports Association (IPA). This new organization will help manage the cruise development process and raise funds for the mission. The IPA, which represents India’s main ports, will collect money through a “cruise development cess” at major ports. This money will help fund the development of new cruise infrastructure, including terminals and marinas.

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The government is also creating new laws for cruise ships, including relaxing the cabotage laws, which govern shipping between Indian ports. The goal is to make it easier for cruise lines to operate in India. The government will also offer financial incentives to attract cruise operators to the country.

The Cruise Bharat Mission will include building world-class terminals and marinas that are environmentally friendly. The ministry is also developing a National Cruise Infrastructure Master Plan for 2047. This plan will include ideas for public-private partnerships (PPP) and guidelines for developing cruise terminals and other infrastructure.

To support job growth, the government will partner with the National Skill Development Council. They will create new training programs to help young people get jobs in the cruise industry. The government is also working on developing National Occupational Standards (NOS) for jobs in cruise tourism.

The Indian government is also looking to form partnerships with neighboring countries like the United Arab Emirates, Maldives, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Indonesia. These Cruise Alliances will help expand India’s international cruise offerings and attract more tourists to the country.