During 2022-23, 60 port calls and during 2023-24 (upto 31.10.2023), 29 port calls were made at various Indian Ports viz. Mumbai, Mormugao, New Mangalore, Cochin, Chennai and Tuticorin by international cruise liners.

To attract International Cruise lines, several incentives have been given, as below.

(i) For berthing, cruise vessel is given priority over cargo vessel.

(ii) Rationalised cruise tariff has been introduced.

1. Port charges are recovered @ $0.085/GRT (fixed rate) and a nominal passenger head tax of $ 6 for first 12 hours of stay at berth.
2. Cruise ships are provided discounts ranging from 10% to 30% based on volume of their calls.

(iii) Ousting charges have been removed to attract cruise vessels.

(iv) E-Visa and on-arrival visa facilities have been extended.

(v) Single e-Landing Card has been introduced which is valid for all ports in cruise itinerary.

(vi) Cabotage has been waived for foreign cruise vessels. This relaxation allows foreign cruise ships to transport Indian nationals from one Indian Port to another Indian Port during their domestic leg.

(vii) In order to promote tourism, conditional IGST exemption has been approved for foreign flag foreign going vessel when it converts to coastal run, subject to its reconversion to foreign going vessel within six months.

(viii) During Global Maritime India Summit, 2023 a session on ‘Embark on a voyage to attract 50 million Cruise Passengers in India by 2047’ and a ‘Roundtable with Cruise lines’ were organized with participation of stakeholders.

(ix) Up-gradation and modernization of Cruise Terminals at New Mangalore, Cochin, Chennai, Mormugao and Visakhapatnam have been completed.

This information was given by the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal in a written statement to the Rajya Sabha today.

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   MJPS/NSK

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