India Flags Off First International Cruise Liner:
The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways flagged off the maiden voyage of the vessel Costa Serena, the first International Cruise Liner in India from Mumbai.
- The initiative aligns with the “Dekho Apna Desh” campaign, reflecting the government’s emphasis on promoting tourism.
- The development of cruise and lighthouse tourism is part of the Sagarmala Programme, which aims to establish India as the premier cruise hub in the Asia Pacific region by 2030.
- The goal is to increase the annual number of cruise passengers in India to 18 lakhs by 2030, up from the current figure of 4.72 lakhs.
- India plans to have 25 operational cruise terminals by 2047, with an estimated annual passenger count of 5 million.
