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T.E. Raja Simhan

Chennai, Aug. 19

Indian major ports will develop dockside infrastructure exclusively for cruise shipping under the PPP (private-public-partnership) model, according to a senior official of the Union Ministry of Shipping.

This was part of the Cruise Shipping Policy, which was cleared by the Union Cabinet recently. The policy also provides attractive tax concessions for cruise ship operators, the official said without divulging more information.

The Shipping Ministry may declare three more waterways as “national waterways”, adding to the present three, to develop cruise tourism, the official told Business Line on the sidelines of a shipping seminar last week.

As part of the “integrated cruise circuit”, the Shipping Ministry plans to develop dockside infrastructure, including passenger amenities, for cruise shipping at Mumbai, Goa, Kochi, New Mangalore, Tuticorin and Chennai ports, he said.

India has 12 major ports and 185 minor ports along a 7,517-km coastline. Cruise shipping will showcase India as a major source and destination of world tourism, the Ministry said in a recent press release.

Globally, the cruise shipping industry annually generates $14 billion and enjoys a passenger base of over 10 million, which is expected to nearly double by 2009. India’s share is only 2 per cent.

As regards number of cruise ships, projections and forecasts are that the number will increase from 257 to 285 by 2009.

India with its “vast and beautiful coastline, virgin forests and undisturbed idyllic island, rich historical and cultural heritage” can be a fabulous tourist destination for cruise tourists.

With the Indian economy developing at a steady pace, the middle-class growing in number and increasingly possessing disposable incomes, which could be spend on leisure activities, Indians could also take on cruise shipping in a big way, the release says.

More Stories on : Shipping/Ports | Infrastructure

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