India Hosts First ASEAN–India Cruise Dialogue, Eyes Role as Maritime Hub

 

 

India hosted the first ASEAN–India Cruise Dialogue in Chennai this week, bringing together delegates from all 10 ASEAN nations and Timor-Leste to boost cruise tourism and regional maritime cooperation.

 

 

The two-day event began on Monday aboard the cruise ship, MV Empress, docked at Chennai Port. It continued on Tuesday in Mamallapuram, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was attended by over 30 senior delegates, including policy leaders and officials from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW).

 

 

Inaugurating the event, Union Minister for MoPSW, Sarbananda Sonowal, called it “a crucial step in reviving ASEAN–India maritime linkages in a modern, inclusive way.” He said the government plans to professionalise 5,000 km of inland waterways and scale up cruise operations across coastal and river routes.

“Cruise ship calls have jumped from 102 in 2013–14 to 282 today,” the minister said. “We now aim for one million sea cruise passengers and 1.5 million river cruise passengers annually by 2029.”

 

 

The dialogue supports India’s broader maritime agenda under the Cruise Bharat Mission, Maritime India Vision 2030, and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. These initiatives target modern ports, affordable cruising, and large-scale job creation.

 

 

India’s natural advantages were prominently showcased: a 7,500-km coastline, 110 navigable waterways, 1,300 islands, and strong domestic tourism demand. A $5.3 billion investment has been proposed to develop river cruise tourism.

 

 

The event focused on building an ASEAN–India Cruise Tourism Corridor and aligning port regulations. India also presented reforms like uniform port charges, e-visas, visa-on-arrival, e-landing cards, and a single-window clearance system.

 

 

Opesh Kumar Sharma, director (MoPSW), said India's diverse maritime experience offers India a high disposable income, large tourist space, and destinations. "And most importany, India offers round the year itineraries," said Sharma.

 

 

Two thematic sessions were held on trade through the ASEAN–India Cooperation Fund and the development of cruise tourism circuits. The goal was to align cruise connectivity with economic and cultural growth.

 

 

“Together, we want to develop a sustainable cruise circuit connecting coastal cities of India and ASEAN,” Sonowal said. “Our vision is to make this region the cruise tourism hub of the Global South.”