Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Aug 1: In a major push to promote cruise tourism in Karnataka, the Department of Tourism has initiated consultations with leading cruise operators in the country, following the direction of Tourism minister K J George. As part of the initiative, Waterways Leisure Tourism Limited, one of India's leading cruise companies, has given its in-principle approval to explore the feasibility of launching cruise services from Mangaluru, Tourism Department secretary Dr Ram Prasath Manohar, IAS, said.
A delegation of senior Tourism Department officials, led by the secretary, recently held detailed discussions in Mumbai with the company's chairman and chief executive officer Jurgen Bailom and associate director (Port Operations) Bharat Acharya.
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The meeting discussed in detail the infrastructure required to launch cruise services from Mangaluru, operational requirements, market opportunities, and various aspects related to the development of cruise tourism.
During the meeting, representatives of the company stressed the need for a comprehensive study on the tourism market, tourist demand, and commercial potential of the Mangaluru coastal region. They also suggested formulating a dedicated promotional strategy to position the Mangaluru coast as a domestic and international cruise tourism destination.
Accordingly, the company's technical team will visit Mangaluru next month to conduct a site inspection (recce) of the port infrastructure, tourism potential, operational feasibility, and the facilities required for launching cruise services.
Meanwhile, as part of efforts to develop the infrastructure necessary for cruise tourism in the state, a team of senior Tourism Department officials recently visited the Mumbai International Cruise Terminal to study its passenger amenities, terminal management, and operational systems.
Based on the findings of this visit, Tourism Department secretary Dr Ram Prasath Manohar has directed officials to undertake a preliminary feasibility study for developing an international-standard cruise terminal in Mangaluru.
"Karnataka's coastline offers immense potential for cruise tourism. The government is committed to developing this sector by engaging with leading industry players and creating the necessary infrastructure and a conducive ecosystem. This initiative will provide a fresh boost to coastal tourism while generating employment and investment opportunities," said Tourism minister K J George.
Describing the development as significant, Dr Ram Prasath Manohar said, "The in-principle approval given by Waterways Leisure Tourism Limited to explore cruise services from Mangaluru is an important milestone. The company's technical team will conduct a site inspection in the next phase, and further action will be taken based on its report. Simultaneously, the department is also examining the feasibility of establishing an international-standard cruise terminal in Mangaluru."