In a significant move towards enhancing India‘s inland waterways, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW) is gearing up for the inaugural ‘Inland Waterways Development Council‘ meeting on January 8, 2023, in Kolkata. This meeting, to be chaired by Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, will mark the launch of groundbreaking initiatives, including the River Cruise Tourism Roadmap 2047 as well as Harit Nauka – Guidelines for Green Transition of Inland Vessels.
According to MoPSW, the event will be an extensive platform featuring discussions on vital aspects such as private sector engagement, the promotion of eco-friendly vessels for passenger transportation and more. A pivotal focus will be on the economic advantages and sustainable practices linked with river cruise tourism. The inclusive discussions will emphasise the collaborative efforts required for the comprehensive development of inland waterways along with the flourishing sector of river cruise tourism.
Several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) are also expected to be signed, signifying collaborative efforts towards advancing inland waterways and associated sectors.
With this event at the forefront, the Ministry aims to significantly increase the modal share of Inland Water Transportation (IWT) from 2 per cent to 5 per cent, aligning with the goals outlined in Maritime India Vision 2030.
Popular destinations like Shimla, Manali, and Dharamshala observed an influx of tourists, countering rumours of traffic jams in Manali and other areas, which the Himachal CM dismissed as baseless. Recently, a few concerns fueled by circulating aerial images of congested hill roads, impacted hotel bookings particularly during the festive season in the state, as reported by local stakeholders.
In West Bengal, the Sagarmala Programme is actively driving maritime development with 62 projects valued at INR 16,300 Crores. Notably, 19 projects worth approximately INR 1,100 Crore have been successfully completed, while 43 projects, totaling around INR 15 thousand Crores, are at various stages of implementation. Among these initiatives, 11 projects, with a partial funding of around INR 650 Crore are making significant progress, said the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW). Six of these projects, valued at approximately INR 400 Crore, have reached completion, while the remaining five, worth INR 250 Crore, are in different phases of implementation.
Amid these advancements, various achievements in improving road connectivity and upgradation projects at ports showcase ongoing efforts toward enhancing safety, efficiency, and infrastructure development.
The establishment of the Inland Waterways Development Council in October 2023 by the Government of India further highlights the earnest commitment to advancing inland waterways and associated ecosystems, emphasising the significant role of states and union territories in this journey.
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In a significant event aimed at boosting cruise tourism in India, the first-ever international cruise liner in India, Costa Serena is all set to begin its domestic sailings this season. This event is scheduled to take place in Mumbai today and is a part of the ‘Dekho Apna Desh‘ initiative, aimed at encouraging middle-class tourists to explore more domestic travel options.
The Costa cruise voyages are scheduled to commence on November 4 and will continue operating until January 1.
Costa Cruises is expected to ferry around 45,000 passengers during its upcoming two-month voyages. This development offers an international cruising experience for Indians and also marks a significant step towards establishing India as a premier cruise destination. It also underscores the growing confidence of international cruise liners in India’s burgeoning cruise potential.
Costa Cruises had previously announced the domestic sailings of Costa Serena in November and December 2023. The cruise liner boasts a passenger capacity of 3,780 individuals spread across its 14 decks and offers a diverse selection of 10 restaurants. To board these domestic sailings, passengers are required to present their Aadhar Card as part of the boarding process.
Launching the domestic sailings for Costa Serena today, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister Sonowal emphasised on the government’s commitment to putting India on the global cruising map. During the recently concluded Global Maritime India Summit 2023, discussions also revolved around the ambitious goal of attracting 50 million cruise passengers to India by 2047. Given India’s immense potential in the maritime sector, this target is easily achievable, said Sonowal.
This year, India also achieved a significant milestone with the launch of the world’s longest river cruise, MV Ganga Vilas, which embarked on a journey from Varanasi, traversing 27 riverfronts to reach Dibrugarh in Assam, with a portion of the route extending through Bangladesh. Notably, this journey attracted the interest of 32 Swiss nationals and piqued the curiosity of both international and domestic tourists about cruising on Indian rivers.
This partnership between TravClan and Resorts World Cruises aims to revolutionise cruise vacations in India and make them more affordable for all. Beyond the conventional sale of cruise packages, this partnership will look at crafting unforgettable moments, discovering uncharted territories and offer the experience of marine luxury to its patrons.
Speaking at the Global Maritime Summit, Minister Sonowal highlighted the cutting-edge infrastructure, advanced technology, and streamlined immigration procedures that have been put in place to enhance the cruise travel experience in India.In addition to Costa, three more international cruise liners will also begin their domestic sailings in India between November and December 2023.
To boost cruise tourism in India, the Government of India had entered into an agreement with these four globally renowned cruise lines, including Costa, setting a vision for 2041. According to a senior official from the Cochin Port Authority, these cruise ships collectively dominate 80 per cent of the cruise market.
A part of the Carnival Corporation & plc Group, Costa Cruises has 10 ships in service. With headquarters in Genoa and operations at global level, Costa sails mainly on routes in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Baltic Sea, the Caribbean, North and Central America, South America, the Arab Emirates and the Far East. Costa Cruises had pioneered the introduction of the Mumbai to Maldives itineraries in 2016 and sailed this itinerary until 2020, from Dec to March.
In India, GSA (General Sales Agent) for the Costa Cruises is Lotus Aero Enterprises, led and supervised by its Managing Director, Nalini Gupta.
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Global Maritime India Summit, which the country hosted last week for the third time in last seven years, will add more dimensions to the sector’s growth, which is already on an upswing since 2014, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has said. Sonowal, who is the Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, also expressed hope that India will become a global leader in cruise tourism soon given the ecosystem created by the government.
India successfully hosted the third edition of the mega maritime event in the financial capital from October 17-19, with the summit attracting investment proposals worth Rs 10-lakh crore by way of 360 initial pacts reached between various companies both from the private and public sectors.
“I believe this particular global summit is going to add more dimensions to our growth (of the sector). The transportation sector in the last nine-and-a-half years has seen transformation, which is visible also because of the growth,” Sonowal told PTI in an interaction.
The minister said that earlier there were no “excitement” or “initiatives” in many sectors and neither there was any policy or programme, but post-2014, the speed and scale of the growth is being witnessed.
The government has not only created an ecosystem in terms of connectivity and communication but has also started to empower the common man in all aspects, he said.
Citing the example of the World Bank‘s Logistics Performance Index (2023) which saw India jumping 6 places to rank 38th position out of 139 countries, he said this improvement also shows growth.
“How growth will take place unless you have taken some concrete initiative, a concrete programme to be implemented with quality and within a time frame,” he said.
So that is why modernisation, mechanization, digitisation and port-led industrial growth as well as connectivity enhancement besides coastal shipping, and inland waterways are all important verticals that were included in the flagship Sagarmala programme, he added.
The new draft National Tourism Policy augurs well for rapid development of cruise tourism in India as it includes cruise tourism-friendly policies and the government’s plan to open 111 waterways in the country. Indira Banerjee, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Antara River Cruises, spoke to ETTravelWorld about the company’s approach to enhancing the cruise experience and its commitment to sustainability.
Sonowal said that his ministry has identified 809 projects worth Rs 5.6-lakh crore of investment and as many as 222 projects have been completed by spending Rs 1.22, lakh core while the rest are under implementation and will be completed by the stated timeline of 2035. “So now firstly it has been implemented and out of developing this infrastructure facility, ecosystem, growth is taking place,” he said.
Sonowal said that the government has taken a slew of initiatives in ocean, coastal and river cruise segments and “within a short span of time of now, in coastal, river cruise and ocean cruise (segments), India is going to become the world leader.”
“It is because we have already developed infrastructure like international level terminals, cruise terminals. And at many places, as per the requirement of the global tourists we are going to add more value in the (existing) infrastructure,” he said.
He said that India has become a global destination even in the river cruise segment.
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Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), announced its return to Asia with Norwegian Jewel setting sail from Tokyo and commenced its extensive six-month season of voyages in the region.
As the first ship in the NCL fleet to return to Asia in over three years, Norwegian Jewel will offer 16 immersive, port-rich itineraries, visiting 11 countries and sailing from nine different departure ports, including Bangkok (Laem Chabang) Thailand; Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang) Malaysia; Singapore; Taipei (Keelung), Taiwan; Bali (Benoa), Indonesia; Tokyo and Yokohama, Japan; and for the first time in NCL history Seoul (Incheon), South Korea.
Cruises range in length from 10 to 14 days with an average of less than two sea days per sailing, inviting guests to enjoy up to 13.5 hours in iconic destinations like Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, as well as extended overnight stays in places that come alive at night, such as Phuket, Thailand; Osaka, Japan; and Bali (Benoa), Indonesia.
The new draft National Tourism Policy augurs well for rapid development of cruise tourism in India as it includes cruise tourism-friendly policies and the government’s plan to open 111 waterways in the country. Indira Banerjee, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Antara River Cruises, spoke to ETTravelWorld about the company’s approach to enhancing the cruise experience and its commitment to sustainability.
The brand will also make its first calls to Manila, Boracay, Palawan and Salomague, Philippines; Bintan Island, Indonesia; and Hualien, Taiwan, NCL shared in a statement.“Today is a celebratory moment, as we return to Asia with Norwegian Jewel’s arrival to Tokyo,” said David J. Herrera, President, Norwegian Cruise Line. “We pride ourselves in delivering the best vacation experience and providing endless opportunities for our guests to explore the world, including Asia. This region delivers some of the most intriguing history, cuisine, and culture for travelers to discover, and we are thrilled to deliver a diverse selection of port-rich voyages. This market is important to us, and we are committed to servicing it in the long term,” he said.
Underlying the brand’s commitment to Asia, both as a source market and destination, NCL shared that it will have a record four ships deployed in the region during the 2024/25 season, providing travelers with unrivalled choice.
In addition to Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Spirit, Sun and Sky will also visit the area’s most diverse ports, offering guests the opportunity to explore iconic and less discovered destinations including Japan, Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam, Philippines and Malaysia, the company shared.
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