Lok Sabha Question No. 219 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-21
Subject: Promotion of Cruise Tourism
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Shri Bidyut Baran Mahato, Shri Dilip Saikia, Dr. Hemant Vishnu Savara, Shri Lumbaram Choudhary, Shri Bibhu Prasad Tarai, Shri Arun Govil, Shri Manoj Tiwari, Shri Dineshbhai Makwana, Shri Praveen Patel, Shri Kota Srinivasa Poojary

## 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 DelhiNCR 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  8 th   January  2024,  a  roadmap  for development of River Cruise tourism in India was launched.

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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. No. | States/ UTs   | Year    | Name of Projects                                                                       | Implementing Agency   |   Amount Sanctioned |
|----------|---------------|---------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------|---------------------|
|        1 | Tamil Nadu    | 2012-13 | Cruise Passenger Facilities Centre in the existing Passenger Terminal at Chennai Port. | Chennai Port Trust    |             1724.66 |
|        2 | Goa           | 2014-15 | Cruise Terminal Building at Mormugao Port Trust                                        | Mormugao Port trust   |              879.04 |
|        3 | Kerala        | 2016-17 | Development of a Walkway/Promena de on Willingdon Island, Cochin, Kerala               | Cochin Port Trust     |              901    |
|        4 | Kerala        | 2016-17 | Central Financial Assistance for upgrading of Births & Backup area of Ernakulam Wharf  | Cochin Port Trust     |             2141    |
|        5 | Maharash tra  | 2016-17 | Central Financial Assistance to Mumbai Port Trust for Development of Kanoji Angre      | Mumbai Port trust     |             1500    |

|    |                |         | Lighthouse as a tourist Destination                                                                             |                           |         |
|----|----------------|---------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------|---------|
|  6 | Maharash tra   | 2017-18 | Up-gradation /modernization to International Cruise terminal at Indira Dock, Mumbai.                            | Mumbai Port Trust         | 1250    |
|  7 | Goa            | 2018-19 | Improvement of immigration facility and deepening of existing cruise berth at Mormougao                         | Mormugao Port trust       | 1316.4  |
|  8 | Kerala         | 2018-19 | Developing infrastructure at Cochin Port Cruise Terminal.                                                       | Cochin Port Trust         |  120.79 |
|  9 | Kerala         | 2018-19 | Creation of additional tourism facilities at the Cochin Port Trust Walkway                                      | Cochin Port Trust         |  466.47 |
| 10 | Andhra Pradesh | 2018-19 | Construction of Cruise-cum- Coastal Cargo Terminal at Channel berth area in Outer Harbour of Visakhapatnam Port | Visakhapatn am Port Trust | 3850    |
| 11 | Kerala         | 2019-20 | CFA for Development of Additional infrastructure in the new Cochin Port Trust Terminal                          | Cochin Port Trust         | 1029.7  |

| 12.   | Goa          | 2021-22   | Creation of facilities for International and Domestic Cruise Vessels at Mormugao Port, Goa by Mormugao Port Trust (MPT)   | Mormugao Port Trust   |   5000.00 |
|-------|--------------|-----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------|-----------|
| 13.   | Maharash tra | 2021-22   | Upgradation/Moder nisation to International Cruise Terminal at Indira Dock, Mumbai Port Trust                             | Mumbai Port Trust     |    3750   |
|       | Total        | Total     | Total                                                                                                                     | Total                 |   23929.1 |

List of Projects sanctioned for Coastal Circuit and Cruise Project under Swadesh Darshan Scheme

## (Amount in ₹ crore)

|   S. No. | Name of State   | Year    | Project Name                                                                                                                                |   Amount Sanctioned |
|----------|-----------------|---------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|
|        1 | Andhra Pradesh  | 2014-15 | Development of Circuit at Kakinada - Hope Island - Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary - Passarlapudi -Aduru - S Yanam - Kotipally                   |               67.83 |
|        2 | Andhra Pradesh  | 2015-16 | Development of Nellore, Pulikat Lake, Ubblamadugu water falls, Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary, Mypadu Beach, Ramatheertham                        |               49.55 |
|        3 | Puducherry      | 2015-16 | Development of Dubrayapet, Arikamedu China Veerampattinam, Chunnabmar, Nallavadu, Manapet, Kalapet, French Quarter, Tamil Quarter and Yanam |               58.44 |
|        4 | West Bengal     | 2015-16 | Development of Beach Circuit: Udaipur- Digha- Shankarpur- Tajpur- Mandarmani- Fraserganj- Bakkhlai-Henry Island                             |               67.99 |

| 5.    | Maharashtra               | 2015-16   | Development of Sindhudurg Coastal Circuit (Shiroda Beach, Sagareshwar, Tarkarli, Vijaydurg (Beach & Creek), Devgad (Fort & Beach), Mitbhav, Tondavali, Mocehmad and Nivati Fort).   |   19.06 |
|-------|---------------------------|-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|
| 6.    | Goa                       | 2016-17   | Development of Sinquerim-Baga, Anjuna-Vagator, Morjim-Keri, Aguada Fort and Aguada Jail.                                                                                            |   97.65 |
| 7.    | Odisha                    | 2016-17   | Development of Gopalpur, Barkul, Satapada and Tampara.                                                                                                                              |   70.82 |
| 8.    | Andaman & Nicobar Islands | 2016-17   | Development of Long Island- Ross Smith Island- Neil Island- Havelock Island- Baratang Island-Port Blair.                                                                            |   27.57 |
| 9.    | Tamil Nadu                | 2016-17   | Development of Chennai- Mamamallapuram - Rameshwaram - Kulasekaranpattinam - Kanyakumari                                                                                            |   73.13 |
| 10.   | Goa                       | 2017-18   | Development of Rua De Orum Creek - Don Paula - Colva - Benaulim                                                                                                                     |   99.35 |
| 11.   | Kerala                    | 2018-19   | Development of Malanad Malabar Cruise Tourism Project                                                                                                                               |   57.35 |
| Total | Total                     | Total     | Total                                                                                                                                                                               |  688.74 |

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