News: Mumbai to have world-class cruise terminal

(PTI 09/01/2007) Mumbai - Mumbai would be a cruising hub, and have a world-class cruise terminal to be set up by the Mumbai Port Trust (MPT).

"Expression of interests will be invited shortly for building the cruise terminal that would have a marina, a convention centre, hotels, entertainment places," Ashok Kumar Bal, deputy chairman of MPT, told PTI. The terminal is to be set up as a joint venture with public-private partnership, Bal added.

"The port has made pioneering efforts to encourage cruise shipping in India. About 67,000 passengers took to cruise shipping last year. And this year, it is expected to cross one lakh," he said. The port receives about 25-30 international cruise ships now, up from 18 in 2004-05, Bal said.

The global scenario for cruise shipping is gaining momentum, with an annual growth of 10-20% in cruise ship fleet and passengers. Mumbai, Kochi and Mormugao are the ports that are seeing an increase in cruise shipping.

Seeing a growth in people opting for cruise travel, the central government is working on a cruise shipping policy.