Sonowal Flags off India’s First International Cruise from Chennai to Sri Lanka

Inaugurates International Cruise Terminal at Chennai

Padmesh Prabhune

The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated at Chennai the International Cruise Vessel – MV Empress, India’s first such service from Chennai to Sri Lanka, while also inaugurating the international cruise tourism terminal at Chennai Port.

Built at a cost of Rs 17.21 crores, spread over an area of 2,880 square meters with an ability to host 3,000 passengers at a time, the terminal heralds a new age of cruise tourism & maritime trade in the country.

This coinciding with the occasion of Environment Day, the Union Minister along with the port officials also planted 2500 tree saplings at the port.

Speaking on the occasion Sonowal said, “With our rich heritage & culture around our coastal region, the potential of cruise tourism in India is immense. Today, as we launch the maiden cruise service between Chennai and Sri Lanka, it has ushered a new chapter in the cruise tourism sector in the country.”

Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways have been taking multiple steps to develop the avenues of cruise tourism in the country and bolster opportunities of maritime trade of India. The cruise service is the result of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed during the first Incredible India International Cruise Conference in 2022 between Chennai Port and M/S Waterways Leisure Tourism Pvt Ltd to start domestic and international cruise service.

With an overwhelming response by 85,000 passengers availing the cruise services through 37 vessels for the domestic circuit, it is expected that the opening up of this international circuit will further ramp up the business of cruise tourism in the region. The cruise service will sail to three Sri Lankan ports; viz. Hanbantota, Trincomalee, and Kankesanturei. The tour packages on board MV Empress will be offered for 2 nights, 3 nights, 4 nights and 5 nights.

Speaking further, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said, “As more and more people are likely to experience cruise tourism in the near future, the government remains deeply committed to develop world class infrastructure to support and enable growth of cruise tourism and maritime trade. Plans are afoot to develop new cruise tourism terminal in Andamans, Puducherry and Lakshadweep circuits. We are also studying the feasibility of developing ferry circuits across India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar.”

–Marex Media