In a bid to reap the benefits of cruise tourism, India’s Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has launched the “Cruise Bharat Mission” to double cruise calls and passengers to the country by 2029.
The mission is set to be implemented in three phases and covers three key segments – Ocean & Harbour cruise, River and Inland cruise and Island cruise.
It is expected over 1.5 million river cruise passengers will take to India’s 5000 Kms of operational waterways in five years.
The initiative aims to excel India’s vision to become a global hub for cruise tourism and promote the country as the leading global cruise destination, a report released today said.
India targets high numbers of cruisers
Key performance targets across the phases include increasing sea cruise passengers from 0.5 million in Phase 1 to 1 million by Phase 3, with corresponding increases in sea cruise calls from 125 to 500.
River cruise passengers will grow from 0.5 million in Phase 1 to 1.5 million by Phase 3. The number of international cruise terminals will expand from 2 in Phase 1 to 10 by Phase 3, while river cruise terminals will increase from 50 to 100. Similarly, marinas will grow from 1 to 5, and employment generated will rise from 0.1 million to 0.4 million by the final phase.
“The ‘Cruise Bharat Mission’ is a watershed moment in the revamp of the cruise sector of India. Cruise, with its tremendous potential in our country, has remained unexplored for long,” Union Minister, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said.
“With this visionary mission, it is aimed at transforming our maritime landscape and harness the potential of India’s vast coastline and waterways through cruise tourism.”
“Based on critical pillars of infrastructure development, amp up cruise experience for tourists and sustainability of resources, the three phased mission will develop world class infrastructure and enable growth of cruise tourism and maritime trade.”
India’s river cruises already a hit with tourists
There are already several operators in India offering diverse and luxurious river cruises.
Pandaw has recently revealed its plans to launch a fourth ship in India to sail the backwaters of Kerala from October 2025, which can only be due to increasing demand for river cruising in the region.
Meanwhile, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises also operate in India on its India & the Sacred Ganges tour. Taking in numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites — particularly in the Golden Triangle — made up of New Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur, the itinerary includes visiting the beautiful Taj Mahal, Humayun’s Tomb and The Amber Palace.
