Lok Sabha Question No. 31 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-21
Subject: Institutional Framework for Coastal and Cruise Tourism
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Shri Sribharat Mathukumilli

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.31

## ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025

## INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR COASTAL AND CRUISE TOURISM

31. SHRI SRIBHARAT MATHUKUMILLI:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has developed or notified a comprehensive national  policy  for  coastal  tourism  development  and  if  so,  the  key objectives and components of such a policy;
- (b) the  current  status  of  the  proposed  National  Cruise  Tourism  Policy and National Cruise Tourism Board along with the manner in which these policy and board align with the existing Cruise Shipping Policy (2008), Sagarmala Programme and Swadesh Darshan scheme;
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  coordinating  with  coastal  States  and Union  Territories  to  create  region-specific  coastal  tourism  master plans or integrated tourism nodes and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has any proposals to support district-level or regional initiatives such as pooled investments, Blue Flag certification  expansion  or  sustainable  infrastructure  development under the blue economy framework; and
- (e)
- if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

## ANSWER

(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a) to (e): Development and promotion of tourist destinations and products, including cruise tourism is undertaken by the respective State Government/Union Territory (UT) Administration. The  Ministry of  Tourism complements  the  efforts  of  States/UTs  through  various  schemes  and initiatives.

Various  schemes,  programs,  and  initiatives  of  the  Ministry  have  been actively addressing issues related to the tourism promotion and development,  including  coastal  tourism.  The  focus  of  the  Ministry  is  to strengthen and effectively implement these ongoing initiatives and monitor the evolving needs of the tourism sector, while remaining open to further enhancements in alignment with national priorities and stakeholders inputs. A separate policy for development of coastal tourism

is not envisaged at this point in time. However, 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. The  Swadesh  Darshan  Scheme  of  the  Ministry  has  been  revamped  as Swadesh  Darshan  2 . 0  with  the  objective  to  develop  sustainable  and responsible tourism destinations following a tourist & destination centric approach . Cruise  Bharat  Mission  (CBM)  has  been  launched  by  Ministry  of  Ports, Shipping & Waterways 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.

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ANNEXURE

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.31 ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025 REGARDING INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR COASTAL AND CRUISE TOURISM RAISED SHRI SRIBHARAT MATHUKUMILLI

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/Promenad e 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 | Maharashtra   | 2016-17 | Central Financial Assistance to Mumbai Port Trust for Development of Kanoji Angre Lighthouse as a tourist Destination | Mumbai Port trust     |             1500    |
|        6 | Maharashtra   | 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       |   1316.40 |
|-------|----------------|-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------|-----------|
| 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    |
| 13.   | Maharashtra    | 2021-22   | Upgradation/Modern isation to International Cruise Terminal at Indira Dock, Mumbai Port Trust                           | Mumbai Port Trust         |   3750    |
| Total | 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 -                                                                                                                                          |               73.13 |

|     |        |         | Rameshwaram - Kulasekaranpattinam - Kanyakumari                 |        |
|-----|--------|---------|-----------------------------------------------------------------|--------|
| 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                                                           | 688.74 |

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