Govt likely to okay national cruise policy

The Government is likely to clear the national cruise policy on Thursday as it tries to tap a growing market of cruise travellers worldwide. As of now, India has a minuscule share of the global cruise traffic — both as a source country and as a destination — with just 50,000 tourists arriving on board cruise vehicles in 2006. But with a 7,500-km coastline and several big ports, India is widely tipped to become a major player in the global market.

Sources said the Ministry of Shipping was ready with a draft national policy, which would be placed before the Cabinet at its meeting on Thursday. The draft policy proposes a number of measures, including big tax concessions for both domestic as well as international cruise operators, they said. The policy will amend existing laws to encourage the entry of foreign cruise vehicles into Indian shores, allow for reduction on duty on fuel oil, and facilitate hassle-free immigration and transit facilities to tourists.

The policy identifies a few big ports — including Kochi, Goa, and Mumbai on the west coast and Chennai and Vizag on the east coast — as the ones that can be developed as the biggest hubs for cruise ships coming to Indian shores. Major infrastructure development work at Kochi, Goa and Mumbai are in their final stages. The idea is to develop them on the lines of international airports with dedicated terminals for cruise liners. The Tourism Ministry has also made a number of proposals to boost cruise tourism in the country, most notably an offer to provide grants up to 20 per cent of the capital costs to private parties willing to start cruise operations.