Our govt on the mode to boost ‘Cruise Tourism’

Mumbai, July 6: One of the focused aspects of our government is to develop cruise tourism in the country. For this, under Sagarmala project, Centre will provide 500 crore rupees to Shipping Corporation of India to lease out cruises to promote cruise tourism. This information was given by Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari.

 

Gadkari and Union MoS for Tourism, K. J. Alphons interacted with associates of travel and trade fraternity concerned with cruise and other related matters on Thursday.

The deliberations were held as part of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) Annual Awards event in Mumbai. Addressing the gathering, Gadkari said that Government is focusing on sea route and inland waterways. He said that the Government is promoting the use of methanol and ethanol fuels to be used in a cruise to bring down fuel cost. He suggested cruise tourist companies to bring cruises from abroad and refurbish them in India which will be cost-effective for them.

 

Tourism Minister K. J. Alphons said that tourism has done extremely well last year. He said that the Government is looking towards doubling the foreign tourist arrivals in three years. Alphons suggested that no GST may be applied for first 5 years in order to give a boost to cruise tourism business. He said that by doing it, Government will lose money in the short run; it will give handsome profit going ahead.