Good days are ahead for India’s international cruise tourism
India’s, cruise tourism industry is expected to expand in the coming years as the projected number of Indians to travel on international cruise is around 3 lakhs by 2020.
Referring to a recent report of UNWTO, a senior official of the Indian representative of the Royal Caribbean Cruises, Tirun, said outbound travel from the country will hit 50 million by 2020, making it one of the world’s fastest-growing outbound markets.
“We are looking at almost 3 lakh Indians to take an international cruise vacation by 2020,” said Varun Chadha, CEO of Tirun
He further said like China, India has huge potential and it gets exciting when we open up our shores. China could enhance their cruise travellers from 4 lakh to 2.7 million in just under a decade. Currently India’s estimated cruise tourists’ number is around 1.7 million.
“India has similar potential; moreover the government is keen on the cruising sector,” he said, adding it is imperative for us to utilize the current favourable atmosphere in the cruise tourism sector and to plan in advance to attain our target by 2020.
The government is planning to link Mumbai with other prominent locations across the country, besides South East Asia and has asked private operators to come forward and take the benefit of the booming cruise industry.
Meanwhile, on October 12, Mumbai-Goa cruise service began by the Angriya, which was non-stop, 16-hour voyage from the Purple Gate of Mumbai’s Indira Docks and arrived at Mormugao in South Goa ferrying 399 passengers.
Tirun Travel Marketing is the India representative for Royal Caribbean Cruises with a portfolio of three of its cruise brands including, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises.
Tirun also offer two special India cruises this year – Christmas special cruise from Abu Dhabi to Mumbai with a special Christmas celebrations on board and the New Year cruise that starts from Mumbai on December 28 with a double overnight stay in Dubai, including New Year’s Eve with cruise ending in Abu Dhabi with an overnight stay.
Beginning from Mumbai, there will also be cruises to Cochin and then makes a journey across the Eastern African coast, including Durban and finally docking at Cape Town. It will also dock at Seychelles.