Lok Sabha Question No. 2083 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-15
Subject: Cruise Services
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Arvind Ganpat Sawant

- iii.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS

## LOKSABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2083

ANSWERED ON 15.12.2023

## CRUISE SERVICES

2083. SHRI ARVIND GANPAT SAWANT:

## Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state: पȅन , पोतपįरवहनऔरजलमागŊमंũी

(a) the action taken by the Government for development of cruise services in various Ports in the country; (b) whether the development of cruise services is limited to Tourism only and if so, the details thereof; (c) whether the Government has any plans for development of Ports in the country while developing cruise services; (d) if so, the list of such Ports that are proposed to be developed; (e) whether it is true that, a plan has been submitted for the development of Mumbai Port; and (f) if so, the initiatives taken by the Government to develop the Port of Mumbai Port

- Authority to generate more revenue?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF PORTS,SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

- (a) The action taken by the Government for development of Cruise Services across the country are as under:-
- i. For berthing, cruise vessel is given priority over cargo vessel;
- ii. Rationalised cruise tariff has been introduced.
- a. Port  charges  are  recovered  @  $0.085/GRT  (fixed  rate)  and  a  nominal passenger head tax of $ 6 for first 12 hours of stay at berth.
- b.  Cruise ships are provided discounts ranging from 10% to 30% based on volume of their calls.

Removal of ousting charges to attract cruise vessels;

- iv. Provisions for volume discount in Port Tariff ranging from 10 to 30% have been extended;
- v. 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 their domestic leg;
- vi. E-Visa and on-arrival visa facilities have been extended;
- vii. In order to promote tourism, conditional IGST exemption has been  approved for foreign flag foreign going vessel when it converts to coastal run, subject to its reconversion to foreign going vessel within six months.
- viii. During Global Maritime India Summit, October, 2023, sessions on 'Embark on a  voyage  to  attract  50  million  Cruise  Passengers  in  India  by  2047'  and  a 'Roundtable with Cruise lines' were organized with participation of stakeholders

ix.Standard  Operating  Procedure  (SOP)  for  uniform  &  pre-defined  services  by various  stakeholders  like  Port,  Customs,  Immigration,  CISF,  Port  Health,  Cruise agent,  Cruise  Terminal  Operators,  State  Govt.,  Tourism  Boards,  etc  has  been implemented;

- x.  Single e-Landing Card has been introduced which is valid for all ports in cruise itinerary;
- xi.  Active  engagement  in  all  Cruise  Trade  Sea  Trade  conclaves  globally    are ensured;
- xii. Cruise  Facilitation  meeting  for  every  voyage  with  cruise  stakeholders  such  as Ports, Immigration, Tourism Boards, Port Health Officer, Customs, Taxation body, Security, Cruise are arranged;
- xiii.  Training/Sensitization sessions are held every year.
5. (b) In addition to tourism, Cruises also provide services for weddings, conferences, award functions, movie events, and other entertainments viz casinos.
6. (c) &  (d)  Yes.  Currently  seven  Indian  Cruise  Ports  across  India  in  Mumbai, Mormugao,  New  Managalore,  Cochin,  Chennai,  Vizag  and  Kolkata  are  welcoming Cruise passengers with current infrastructure. Steps have been take up to upgrade/modernize the cruise infrastructure with excellent passenger amenities at ports including  Mumbai,  Mormugao  and  Kolkata  to  handle  bigger  vessels  and  a  larger volume  of  passenger  traffic  with  reduced  turnaround  time.  Further,  Cochin,  New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA), Chennai & Vizag have lately developed new Cruise Terminals.
7. (e)& (f)A Master Plan has been prepared by Mumbai Port Authority(MbPA) for its area along the eastern water front. The studies related with traffic and marine activities have been conducted.

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