Goemkarponn Desk
PANAJI: Following a record-breaking 1.2 lakh passengers in 2023–24, the state is expected to see even more growth in cruise tourism in the upcoming season, which begins in October of this year.
Vinod Kumar, the chairman of the Mormugao Port Authority (MPA), stated this on Friday.
The Israel-Gaza conflict, which is preventing foreign cruise ships from operating in the Red Sea region, is the only obstacle, according to Kumar, who noted that the port has received inquiries from a number of significant cruise lines this year.
Kumar stated that despite the rise in newer cruise segments like adventure cruises and excursion boats, “the domestic cruise market is equally strong.”
In 2023–24, about 53 domestic and international passenger cruise ships arrived at the port, compared to 46 ships during the 2022–2023 season. Ninety thousand of the 1.2 lakh cruise passengers that visited the state were from domestic cruise lines, and the remaining thirty thousand were from overseas cruise lines.
While this takes an additional seven months to complete, the MPA is getting ready for a new, state-of-the-art cruise terminal. “The terminal building’s construction is 70% complete, and it should be ready by September of this year.
However, the installation of the facilities and services will require an additional four months. January 2025 will see the opening of the cruise terminal, according to the port chairman.
Kumar spoke soon after the inaugural session related to a conference on ‘Port of the Future’, jointly orgainsed by MPA and the Director General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL).
With cruise tourism on a high in India and across the world, several international cruise companies that are finding it difficult to ply due to the mid-East war are looking to tie up with domestic liners.
“Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Andamans & Nicobar are highly popular destinations for foreign cruise liners. Goa will see a lot of international tourists coming in. Cruise traffic is helping ports to generate revenue, as cruise passengers are high-worth individuals who spend money,” said Kumar.
