Lok Sabha Question No. 4694 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-30
Subject: Development of Cruise Ports
Ministry: SHIPPING
Asked by: PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SHIPPING

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4694 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30thMARCH, 2017 DEVELOPMENT OF CRUISE PORTS

## 4694. SHRI PRAHLAD SINGHPATEL:

Will the Minister of SHIPPINGbe pleased to state:

## पोतप�रवहनमंत्

- (a) whether the Government is awarethat India is not considered as a preferreddestination by the global cruise liners/operators;
- (b) if so, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government proposesto develop modern cruise ports to attractglobal cruise liners and develop cruisetourism in the country;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the steps taken/proposed to betaken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SHIPPING (SHRI PON. RADHAKRISHNAN)

(a)&(b):India is  fast  emerging  as  a  cruise  tourist  destination.      In  2014-15  a  total  of  1,04,125 cruise passengers were handled at five major ports which increased to 1,25,838 during 2015-16 achieving a growth of 20.85% over the previous year.  In 2016-17, up to January, major ports had  handled  1,22,093  cruise  passengers.    In  2016-17,  Costa  Neo  Classica  cruise  ship      made Mumbai Port as home port for  7 voyages.

- (c)&(d):To  attract  cruise  lines/ships  as  a  part  of  cruise  tourism  in  India,  the  Government  has developed  cruise  terminals  at  four  major  ports  namely  Mumbai  Port,  Mormugao  Port,  New Mangalore Port and Cochin Port.    A new cruise   terminal is under development at Chennai Port and is scheduled to be completed by 15.4.2017.
- (e):                The  following  steps  have  been  taken  by  the  Government  to  make  Indian  ports  more attractive for cruise tourism:
- (i) All  major  ports  offer  a  minimum  rebate  of  30%  across  the  board  on  all  vessel  related charges (port dues, pilotage and berth hire) from the notified scale of rates for cruise ships.
- (ii) Major ports do not levy any priority/ousting/shifting charges for berthing the cruise vessel, provided the liner informs port 30 days in advance about the requirement of the berth.

- (iii) To attract cruise liners to make major ports as homeports, the major ports provide rebate of 25% in vessel related charges for coastal cruise movement.  This is in addition to the 40% existing rebate for coastal vessels.  Further, walk-in berthing/preferential berthing is given to homeport cruise without any extra charge.
- (iv) Foreign  flag  vessels  carrying  passengers  had  been  allowed  to  call  at  Indian  ports  for  a period of 10 years with effect from 6 th February, 2009 without obtaining a license from Director General of Shipping.  This has been further extended for a period of five years i.e. upto 5th February, 2024.
- (v) For promoting cruise tourism, a Task Force has been constituted jointly by Ministry of Shipping  and  Ministry  of  Tourism.    The  Task  Force  is  responsible  for  drawing  up strategies for promotion of cruise tourism including development of facilities and related infrastructure as well as facilitation.
- (vi) Standardized Operating Procedures (SOPs) for cruise vessels and  passengers have been implemented.
- (vii) To address manpower, coordination and logistic issues for handling cruise vessels at ports, Port  Level  Committees  with  chairman  of  respective  Major  Ports  Trust  with  Secretary Tourism  of  concerned  state  as  Vice-Chairman  and  Regional  Directors  of  respective regions as conveners have been Constituted.
- (viii) Ministry  of  Tourism  under  its  Scheme  for  Assistance  to  Central  Agencies  extends financial assistance to the Ports for development of cruise related tourism infrastructure.

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