Recognizing the potential of Cruise Tourism, Ministry of Tourism has identified Cruise Tourism as one of the Niche Tourism Products. Development and promotion of tourist destinations and products, including cruise tourism, is primarily the responsibility of the respective State Government/Union Territory (UT) Administration. However, Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) to the Central Government Agencies for development of tourism, including Cruise Tourism and Cruising along rivers on receipt of complete proposals under the Scheme of ‘Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development’.
In addition, Ministry of Tourism has identified Coastal Circuit as one of the fifteen thematic circuits for development under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme and provides financial assistance to various State Governments/ Union Territory Administrations for various tourism projects, which may include components related to cruise tourism, prioritized in consultation with States/UTs every year subject to availability of funds, inter-se priority and adherence to the scheme guidelines.
Apart from the above; Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has also implemented Sagarmala, which is a national programme aimed at accelerating economic development in the country by harnessing the potential of India’s 7,500 km long coastline and 14,500 km of potentially navigable waterways. Under the coastal shipping and IWT pillar of Sagarmala programme, there are various projects which specifically focus on promotion of cruise passenger transport.
Government of India has sanctioned the following projects in the State of Andhra Pradesh relating to cruise tourism/coastal circuits:-
Ministry of Tourism:
Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development Scheme
Project
Amount sanctioned (Rs. in crore)
Construction of Cruise-Cum-Coastal Cargo Terminal at Channel berth area in outer Harbour of Visakhapatnam Port
38.50
Swadesh Darshan Scheme (Costal Circuit)
i)
Development of Kakinada – Hope Island – Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary – Passarlapudi – Aduru – S Yanam – Kotipally
67.84
ii)
Development of Nellore – Pulikat Lake – Ubblamadugu Water Falls – Nelapattu- Kothakoduru – Mypadu – Ramateertham – Iskapalli
49.55
Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways:
Sagarmala
Project
Amount sanctioned (Rs. in crore)
Construction of Cruise Terminal Berth and Terminal building at Channel Berth in outer harbour of Vishakhapatnam Port Trust
96.05
This information was given by Minister of Tourism Shri G. Kishan Reddy in reply to a question in Rajya Sabha yesterday.
Recognizing the potential of Cruise Tourism, Ministry of Tourism has identified Cruise Tourism as one of the Niche Tourism Products. Development and promotion of tourist destinations and products, including cruise tourism, is primarily the responsibility of the respective State Government/Union Territory (UT) Administration. However, Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) to the Central Government Agencies for development of tourism, including Cruise Tourism and Cruising along rivers on receipt of complete proposals under the Scheme of ‘Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development’.
