Team Goemkarponn
MORMUGAO: Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) Chairman, Dr. N. Vinod Kumar, announced on Friday that the much-anticipated International and Domestic Cruise Terminal at Mormugao Port is expected to be ready by August or September this year, just in time for the next cruise season.
Speaking about cruise tourism, Dr. Kumar highlighted that the port has successfully handled multiple cruise vessels in the past, including three on the same day. “International cruise vessels are already docking at the port, and from March 6, another operator, Resort World, which operates from Singapore, will begin Mumbai-Goa trips with 13 calls scheduled for this season,” he said.
Dr. Kumar also discussed the government’s efforts to promote cruise tourism in India. “The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways has launched the Cruise Bharat Mission to boost cruise tourism across the country. This initiative addresses various concerns raised by international operators, such as taxation and business registration rules, which are being reviewed at the national level. Goa remains a highly sought-after destination for cruise tourism, and we are confident of seeing an increase in cruise operations,” he added.
Regarding the development of the new cruise terminal, Dr. Kumar explained that the project is progressing in two stages. “The structural work of the terminal is expected to be completed by May or June. Once the structure is ready, a vendor has already been identified to handle internal work such as immigration counters and other facilities. According to the tender, the internal work will take an additional three to four months. We are confident that the terminal will be ready to welcome both international and domestic cruise passengers by August or September this year,” he said.
