Gujarat govt mulls policy on cruise tourism, first draft likely to be submitted in a month

Indian Express

08-07-2025

Aiming to boost coastal tourism in the state, the Gujarat government is in the process to frame its Cruise Shipping Policy aligned with the national Cruise Bharat Mission (CBM), sources in the government said on Tuesday.
The first draft of the same is likely to be submitted to the government for further approval in one month's time, the sources said.
As part of the process, the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) which is framing the policy had held a consultation workshop with concerned stakeholders in May based on which the first draft is being prepared while incorporating the suggestions made in the workshop.
CBM was launched by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal on September 30, 2024. The Cruise Bharat Mission aims to make India a global cruise tourism hub within the next decade with a goal to increase sea cruise tourism tenfold by 2029.
A top officer connected with the development said, 'GMB is framing the policy and various departments of the state government like Home, Tourism and Urban Development are also involved in it. The first draft of the policy is almost ready and it will be submitted to the government for approval in one month's time.'
Sharing about the workshop details, sources said, 'The workshop was held to take inputs from multiple stakeholders. There has to be an eco-system then only these people will come. And it includes the port facility, tourist destinations, connectivity etc..'
As part of the policy, the government has also proposed multiple potential cruise circuits along its western coast which includes destinations such as Diu, Veraval, Porbandar, Dwarka, Jamnagar, Okha, and Padala Island, alongside the operational Ghogha-Hazira Ro-Pax service.
According to an official release, the proposed routes have been divided into three clusters, including Padala Island–Rann of Kutch, Porbandar–Veraval–Diu and Dwarka–Okha–Jamnagar.
'Each cluster is designed with tourism logic, ensuring that key religious, natural, and cultural destinations are within a 100-kilometre radius, making shore excursions efficient and attractive for cruise passengers,' the release stated.
The release also stated that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Gujarat government has taken a proactive role in shaping the national cruise agenda, leveraging its strategic 2340-km coastline and navigable rivers like the Sabarmati and Narmada.
'While major ports like Mumbai, Cochin, Chennai, and Mormugao have made significant strides in cruise terminal development, Gujarat — despite having India's longest coastline — is yet to establish a dedicated cruise terminal. The recent workshop marks a turning point, as the state gears up to bridge this gap,' it added.