August 1, 2023: Ministry of Tourism, as part of its ongoing activities, releases global print, electronic, and online media campaigns in important, and potential markets overseas, under the ‘Incredible India’ brand-line, to promote various tourism destinations and products of the country.
To position India as a preferred destination for cruise tourism globally, the Ministry of Tourism has drafted a National Strategy for Cruise Tourism. The following strategic pillars have been identified in the strategy document for infrastructure & circuit enablement, market development, and skill development:
- Infrastructure & Circuit Enablement
- Market Development
- Ease of doing Business for Cruise Tourism
- Integrated Tourism around Cruise Terminals
- Facilitating and Promoting Investment in Cruise Tourism
- Skill Development for Cruise Tourism
- Institutional Structure and Governance
The Ministry of Tourism also provides financial assistance to the State Governments/UT Administrations and Central Government Agencies for the development of tourism including Cruise Tourism and Cruising along rivers, under the scheme for ‘Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development’. The details of projects sanctioned for infrastructure development at Ports and Waterways under the scheme of Assistance to Central Agencies during the last three years.
Ministry of Tourism partnered with the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways during the 1st Incredible India International Cruise Conference. The conference showcased abundant business opportunities in the cruise tourism sector including river cruising. The conference was attended by more than 300 delegates including major global cruise lines viz, MSC, Carnival, RCCL, Costa, Cordelia, Holland America group, etc.
As conveyed by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, India has taken Cruise Tourism promotion and campaign to International Cruise events by actively participating in International forums viz Sea-Trade Miami, Dubai, etc. Further, as conveyed by the Inland Waterways Authority of India, the infrastructure developed for transportation on National Waterways (NWs) by IWAI including fairways, terminals, jetties, navigation aids, etc. are used by the river tourism operators also.
Prime Minister of India flagged off the World’s Longest River Cruise on 13th January 2023 from Varanasi on NW-1 (River Ganga) to Dibrugarh NW-2 (River Brahmaputra) via Bangladesh, which has been successfully completed by covering a waterway distance of 3200 km approx. on 28.02.2023 at Dibrugarh, Assam.