Cruise Bharat Mission: India’s Path to Becoming a Global Cruise Tourism Hub

Introduction

• India is a tourists’ paradise as it is – a country with hearitage, culture and geographical variety that stretches from coast to coast.
• However, it seems to have vast opportunities within cruise tourism but few of them have been explored—yet. The new Cruise Bharat Mission unveiled by the Indian government, has brought a paradigm shift in outlook to categorise India as a global cruise tourism hub.
• Formally launched by Union Minister of Ports Shipping and Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal at the Mumbai location on the ‘Empress’ Cruiser this mission has the potential of creating a new era of tourism growing cruise ship passengers by more than fold by 2029.
• The initiative fits well into the country’s general strategic plan to harness its Blue Economy strategy, which hinges on the exploitation of the blue economy to foster economic growth and promote employment.
• The Cruise Bharat Mission thus aims to unlock the latent potential of India as a cruise tourism destination by establishing high standard infrastructure, providing technology intervention and making India a preferred destination for domestic as well as international travellers.

Aims and Objectives of the Cruise Bharat Mission

• The objective of the Cruise Bharat Mission is to make India as one of the favourite cruising destination of the world by enhancing available infrastructure, marketing India’s potentials, and facilitating cruise travelers.
• Being blessed with a coastline of more than 7500 kms and several clean river frontiers, India has a potential to of er for cruise tourism.
• But until now there have not been the proper preparation of infrastructure and strategic direction.

The mission aims to:

• Encourage international cruising for India as a destination.
• Propose improvements for cruise products through terminal and marina improvement or new construction.
• Increase cruising options at various sites along both coastal and inland waterways throughout the country.
• This is twice the passenger traffic for cruise travel and involves both sea and river cruise tourism.
• By focusing on these recreational areas the mission will help to promote India as a cruise tourism spot that increases employment opportunities and hence increase the economy of the coastal areas.

The Three-Phase Plan for Cruise Tourism

• The Cruise Bharat Mission is set to be a highly aggressive strategy that will focus on acquiring and implementing the greatest number of cruise ships over a short interval of time to achieve the government of India’s long-standing vision of efficient cruise tourism.
• Thus, the Cruise Bharat Mission is a three pronged plan that will be set in action between the years 2024-2029.

Phase 1 (2024-2025): Laying the Groundwork

• The first segment of the mission will be to give analysis on all kinds of feasibility studies and formulation of master plans.
• This phase will be important for determining some of the infrastructural requirements and some of challenges that may exist within the cruise sub-sector in India.
• The government will Learn more about the market needs and existing deficiencies in the tourism service of cruises.
• Establish relationships with countries around the continent to open up inter-country cruise tour circuits.
• Expand existing terminals and marinas to enhance life on board of passengers.
• The funding selection in Phase 1 will create a basis for the more significant changes expected in the later phases by outlining what needs enhancement and investment most urgently.

Phase 2 (2025-2027): Infrastructure Expansion

• In the second phase, while the capital investments have been identified, the second phase is likely to involve attempts to broaden the base of infrastructural development and the cruise tourism destinations.
• During this phase:
  • New cruise terminals will have to be developed where cruise related opportunities are available at significant coastal and riverine cities.
  • The available lists of possible destinations will be enlarged to the potential destinations in cruise tourism.
  • This phase will also seek to initiate a marketing campaign that will popularize India to other countries as a coveted location for international cruise lines, and tourists seeking quality visiting experiences.

Phase 3 (2027-2029): Organizing and Scaling up of Cruise Circuit

• The last stage will thus encompass the linking up of cruise routes so that different tourist sites in the Indian sub region can be visited within the same Cruise.
• In this phase, the possibility of having a cruise experience between different coastal and river destinations will be achieved and well connected.
• Emphasis will also continue to be placed in improving facilities and creating new tourist attractions for cruise tourists.

Key Performance Targets of Cruise Bharat Mission

• The Cruise Bharat Mission has set specific performance targets to measure its success:
  • Sea Cruise Passengers: The mission is the development of sea cruise passenger traffic from 0 up to 0.5 million in the first phase up to 1 million in the third phase of the development.
  • River Cruise Passengers: In the case of river cruises, the targets are passenger volumes, which is expected to rise from 0.5 million to 1.5 million within the same period.
• Achieving these targets will help to realise the mission which will enhance the participation of India in sea and river cruises with massive economic returns.

The Five Key Pillars of Cruise Bharat Mission

• To ensure the success of the mission, the Indian government has outlined five key pillars that will guide the development of cruise tourism infrastructure, operations, and policies:
  • Sustainable Infrastructure & Capital: With regards to the mission, it focuses on the development of glamorous cruise terminals and marinas that have met the international standards. Another emphasis will be made on making the company environmentally friendly and efforts to reduce the levels of carbon dioxide, utilization of the possibilities of green technologies.
  • Technology and Operations: Technology use will become even more important in increasing the effectiveness of cruise operations. This concerns efficiency where the mission will be able to introduce processes such as the e-clearance systems with reference to better handling of the passengers on board so as to load and discharge them as per the scheduled time.
  • Cruise Promotion & Circuit Integration: Awareness of India through international cruise marketplace will be a part of marketing effort which will be an important element. Further, the mission will also focus on harmonising various coastal and riverine cruises circuits in order to offer tourists a connected consumer experience.
  • Supportive Policies: policies and correct financial remunerations which would help create feasible regulation for the further evolution of the cruise tourism. This includes providing of requisite tax exemptions to the cruise operators and ease on cruise ship formalities in Indian territorial waters.
  • Capacity Building and Research: The mission is to develop new employment opportunities by vocational training and education programs focused on cruise tourism. Studies on the updates on the industry and benchmarks will also be carried out systematically in order to improve the service.

Expected Impact of the Cruise Bharat Mission

• Cruise Bharat Mission has a potential to bring beneficial outcomes which is not limited to cruise tourism business and spread across the coastal area economy. Key impacts include:
  • Job Creation: Its complete fulfillment is anticipated to generate about 400,000 of new employment opportunities in the area of tourism, hotels, and marine transportation. This will create absorption for employment, especially along the coastal and Riverine belts, which source a majority of their incomes from Tourism activities.
  • Economic Growth: With the growth of passengers traffic on cruises there will be a direct impact on the gross domestic product through effects on the accommodation facilities, food and beverage sector, and tour and travel companies. Coastal Cities and Riverine towns will experience higher tourist visitation; therefore, people’s expenditure will be boosted, and new infrastructure developed.
  • Strengthening India’s Blue Economy: The Cruise Bharat Mission is included in India’s long-term strategy for using the Blue Economy. At the same time, it is possible to achieve the primary objectives of the Long-Term Plan, namely the achievement of the maximum multiplier effect in the coastal states, based on the understandable premise that India’s wide rim of the oceans is ready for sustainable use.
  • Boost to Local Communities: Through inflow of large numbers of cruise passengers, local craft makers, marketers and dancers will be able to benefit from sale of their products to cruise passengers from different parts of the world.
  • Improved Cruise Experience: New generation terminals, efficient movement and operation, and the access to more ports of call shall enhance the cruise experience in the country and more people will opt for cruising as their holiday.

Conclusion

• The Cruise Bharat Mission is an ambitious plan on which the we can set the stage to turn India into an international cruise tourism destination.
• Through development of world class infrastructure, projecting the ancient historical and natural sites of India, and incorporation of technology for smooth functioning the mission will prove very beneficial for India’s tourisms and larger concept of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
• India has had the advantage of clear targets, a phased development process, and the overall emphasis on sustainability to become one of the best for the cruise industry.

FAQS

1. What is the Cruise Bharat Mission?
Ans: The Cruise Bharat Mission is an initiative launched by the Indian government to promote cruise tourism and make India a global cruise destination. The mission aims to double cruise passenger traffic by 2029 and focuses on improving infrastructure, expanding cruise routes, and promoting India’s coastal and riverine cruise experiences.

2. What are the goals of the Cruise Bharat Mission?
Ans: The mission aims to:

• Increase sea cruise passengers from 0.5 million to 1 million by 2029.
• Increase river cruise passengers from 0.5 million to 1.5 million by 2029.
• Develop world-class cruise terminals and promote India’s cruise destinations globally.

3. What are the three phases of the Cruise Bharat Mission?
Ans: The mission will be executed in three phases:

• Phase 1 (2024-2025): Focus on studies, master planning, and upgrading existing terminals.
• Phase 2 (2025-2027): Build new cruise terminals and expand high-potential cruise destinations.
• Phase 3 (2027-2029): Integrate cruise routes across India and develop more cruise infrastructure.

4. What is the expected impact of the mission?
Ans: The mission aims to create around 400,000 new jobs, boost local economies, and transform India’s coastal regions by increasing tourism and economic activity. It will also strengthen India’s Blue Economy by focusing on sustainable ocean resource usage.