Cruise Tourism to be growth driver for India’s economy: Gadkari

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Minister for Shipping and  Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on June 27, 2017, said that Cruise Tourism is one of the fastest growing components of the leisure industry worldwide and  can be a major growth driver for the Indian economy by generating huge employment opportunities. Gadkari was  speaking at the National Workshop on “Action Plan for Development of Cruise Tourism in India” in New Delhi.

The workshop was also attended by Minister of State for  Culture and Tourism (I/C) Dr Mahesh Sharma, and representatives of all stakeholder organizations – both from the government and the private sector – including regulatory agencies which deal with issues impacting cruise tourism, according to a PIB release.

Gadkari said that on an average employment generation on a cruise ship is 1 job for 3-4 passengers. With India having the potential to cater to 700 cruise ships per year as against 158 handled this year, the cruise industry can generate more than 2.5 lakh jobs for ten lakh cruise passengers giving a big boost to the country’s economy. He informed that cruise terminals are being developed at five major ports – Mumbai, Goa, Cochin, Mangalore and Chennai. In addition, the transport potential of 111 inland waterways will  also be tapped. Work will start for developing ten inland waterways by the end of this year. This includes the rivers Ganga and Brahmaputra on which work is already in progress, he informed.

Gadkari called upon  state governments also to play an active role in promoting cruise tourism by developing, packaging and marketing  their tourists attractions to draw more and more tourists, according to the PIB release.

The Ministry of Shipping has been working actively with all relevant ministries and organizations of the government to promote cruise tourism in the country.  A joint task force headed by Secretary, Shipping, and Secretary, Tourism, was constituted for the purpose, and a global consultant was engaged for drawing up an Action Plan.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Mahesh Sharma said that India is fast growing as an attractive tourist destination. To realize the full potential for cruise tourism in the country, there was a need for all stakeholders to work together and create a favourable ecosystem for growth.