India Targets the Cruise Industry

India Targets the Cruise IndustryThe India Cruise Lines Association (INCLA) released a plan outlining the future of India’s domestic market. The goal is to target five million domestically sourced cruise passengers by 2020.  To achieve this, the INCLA is outlining the necessary changes in their industry which includes clarifications in policy, and various tax and regulatory laws.  This is necessary to provide a level playing field for cruise business in India compared to overseas cruise operators. The other major goal for the INCLA is to attract investors and other stakeholders to set-up cruise operations in India. 

INCLA has been formed by leading cruise liners and other stakeholders from around the world with the aim to create a roadmap for the progress of the cruise sector within India. This entails highlighting various issues being faced by the Indian cruise industry, reforms required to address the said issues, and to ensure that developments are fulfilled effectively from the very beginning.  Now seems to be the time to make it all happen.

India is planning to not only attract cruises to India for overseas passengers, but the hope is to also tap into the growing middle class of the country. The Global cruise industry grew from 10 million in the year 2000 to more than 25 million in 2017. The number of cruise passengers is projected to reach 40 million by 2025.  India’s overall outbound travel is growing rapidly every year and is estimated to be a 50 million outbound travel market by 2020.

indian expressIn August, Zen Cruises, owned by Essel Group, announced the purchase of the Pacific Jewel which will be deployed in the Indian market in 2019.  It’s been made clear that there are bigger plans beyond one ship. Chairman of ZEE and Essel Group, Subhash Chandra said, “It is now or never. The Indian cruise industry should handle five million passengers by 2020. At Essel Group, we have begun cruise business with the commitment to give people a great experience. As an industry leader we feel the proliferation of cruise tourism will bring one million jobs in the next three to four years. We will provide a homegrown alternative for Indians, who are presently going abroad to enjoy cruises.”  

Over a dozen major cruise lines currently offer itineraries that feature destinations in India. Options range from one week in Southeast Asia to months-long voyages encompassing several continents. Embarkation and disembarkation ports are spread across the globe and can be to or from Asia or the Middle East. These are enchanting destinations for passengers and huge business potential for cruise lines.

India’s untapped cruise potential is enormous. India is an enchanting, exotic, historic and beautiful destination, which gives it an immediate advantage in catapulting India as one of the leading cruise destinations. The long coastlines and several port destinations create a natural advantage for India to attract both domestic and international cruise lines.

Access Cruise is a Miami based cruise marketing and sales consulting group, specializing in product and business development within the cruise industry.