Will India Sail Through?

The long neglected coast of India has received a new lease of life from the Indian government which is developing its ports to attract cruise tourism to the country.

- Nolan Lewis

It is ironical that a tropical country like India, which has a vast coastline and natural harbours, lags far behind other nations when it comes to the development of its waterway systems. The subcontinent, with its idyllic islands, and a rich historical and cultural heritage, has a large number of beach destinations that could be explored by cruise liners. Yet, the wealth of our oceans has gone largely untapped. Apart from our naval bases and cargo ports, tourism infrastructure has been largely neglected. Even the well-heeled Indian does not consider investing in a yacht in India and cruising is not the first choice for vacationers, given the fact that very few cruise liners choose an Indian city as a port of embarkation. Of the approximately 12 million outbound travellers from India, cruise tourism accounts for less than one per cent, but the segment is growing at about 15 per cent per annum.

According to the Cruise Lines International Association Report 2017, around 25.3 million passengers are expected to opt for cruise holidays, out of which Indians will be a drop in the ocean. This year companies are expected to invest in an excess of $6.8 billion in new ocean vessels.

Though cruise tourism stands at a nascent stage in India, cruise liners are expanding rapidly in the Asian market, the fastest growing in the world. In 2017, several international cruise liners are exploring India’s coastline. Brands such as Costa Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara Club Cruises, and Star Cruises’ new luxury offering Dream Cruises have all announced India-centric itineraries.

The chief at the deck