Lok Sabha Question No. 131 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-02
Subject: Potential of Cruise Industry
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Faizal P.P. Mohammed

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS

## LOKSABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.131

## ANSWERED ON 02/02/2024

## POTENTIAL OF CRUISE INDUSTRY

131. SHRI. MOHAMMED FAIZAL P.P:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  utilise  the  potential  of  the cruise industry to grow exponentially; and
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  any  plan  to  draft  a  regulatory  framework  that actively ensures the achievement of its goals for the cruise industry and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) &  (b)  The  Government  has  taken  steps  to  incentivise  and  promote  cruise industry for its exponential growthas detailed below:
- (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.
- (iii) Ousting charges have been removed to attract cruise vessels.
- (iv) E-Visa and on-arrival visa facilities have been extended.
- (v) Single e-Landing Card has been introduced which is valid for all ports in cruise itinerary.

(vi) Cabotage has been waived for foreign cruise vessels. This relaxation allows foreign cruise ship to transport Indian nationals from one Indian Port to another Indian Port during its domestic leg. (vii) In order to promote tourism, conditional IGST exemption has been  approved for 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)  Up-gradation  and  modernization  of  Cruise  Terminals  at  New  Mangalore, Cochin, Chennai, Mormugao and Visakhapatnam have been completed. A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been issued by the Government  which  is  followed  by  the  personnel  from  the  offices  of  Customs, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Immigration and Port Health organization (PHO).  The role of State Government has also been given in the SOP. The Cruise Port Operation is multi-faceted and therefore,  many aspects are  involved  in  the  entire  process.  The  SOP  indicate  the  role  of  different authorities on receipt of notification from steamer agents, as detailed below: (i) Immigration:-  The  specific  procedure  for  international  pax/  crew  and domestic pax/crew have been categorically stated. (ii) Security: - It specifies the role of Central Industrial Security Force(CISF) at the time of embarkation and disembarkation of passengers. (iii) Customs:  -  It  specifies  the  process  of  clearing  the  vessel  by  custom officers  on receipt of  electronic Arrival manifest from Steamer agent. (iv) Health:-The Port Health Officer grant Pratique and Health clearance after inspection and finding the vessel safe from health angle.

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