‘The support of the Kerala Government towards cruise tourism will be a major contributing factor’

How is the new facility expected to boost Kerala’s image as a cruise destination?

Suman Billa

There has been a substantial increase in cruise ship arrivals at Cochin port, adding to a significant rise in tourist arrivals. The major cruise shipping lines that operated through the Cochin Port last year were Cunard Lines, RCCL, Aida Cruises, Sebourn, Azamara Club Cruises, Phoenix Reise, Costa Cruises, Crystal, HAL and Regent Seven Seas.

In fact, the Cochin Port has set the benchmark in providing high quality professional service to cruise calls, which other ports can look to emulate in the future. The efforts to promote cruise tourism include creation of a dedicated Cruise Cell comprising officials of the port, customs, immigration and Central Industrial Security Force on the one hand and of the tourism ministry and tour operators, on the other. We are also facilitating this sector through a single window system. It has led Cochin to emerge as one of the preferred cruise destinations in India.

During 2012-13, a total of 40 cruise ships arrived at the Cochin port and the number of passengers and crew stood at 62,940. During the current financial year, which is half-way through, the arrivals have been steady and satisfactory. So far, 36 ships (46,464 passengers and crew members) have arrived at the Cochin port. This has given a major fillip to the growth of Kerala’s tourism and economy.

Has the state received any interest from international cruising companies to bring their ships in?

The state has always extended a warm welcome to international cruise companies. These companies, which crave for new experiences, have shown interest in expanding their market to India, especially Kerala. Even though cruise tourism is at its infancy in Kerala, the potential of Kochi to emerge as a major cruise hub and the support of the Kerala Government towards cruise tourism will be a major contributing factor for international companies to enter Kerala.

Do you think there is potential in Kerala and Sri Lanka working together to offer a combined cruise experience?

There is tremendous potential for cruise tourism in the region, which could benefit both Kerala and Sri Lanka as both are top tourism destinations in the world. It will not only benefit both the destinations in a big way, but also help promote tourism in the South Asia region. Such a scenario will certainly establish South Asia as a cruise destination similar to the Caribbean and the Mediterranean.

As Samudrika also has convention facilities, will it help drive Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, Exhibitions (MICE) business into Kerala?

Kerala Tourism is slowly picking up in the MICE sector. The state government has shown its commitment in this sector by slashing taxes on luxury hotels and convention centres. There is no doubt that Kerala is poised to become a popular MICE destination in the future. Kerala, being a leisure destination, already has venues in the backwaters, houseboat, beaches and hill stations suited for MICE business. Samudrika will definitely be an added advantage for promoting MICE business in Kerala.

To tap the MICE potential in the state, is the government planning to build any more convention centres?

Kerala can surely boast of convention centres of international standards. The Lulu Convention Center in Thrissur, The Le Meridien Convention Center in Kochi and The Rajeev Gandhi Convention Center at the Leela Hotels, in Kovalam, are few among them. The government’s initiative in this year’s budget in cutting luxury taxes on convention centres above Rs 20,000 from 20 per cent to 10 per cent, will act as a catalyst for the private sector to enter the MICE business on an even bigger scale. This initiative is taken to strengthen the efforts of the Tourism Department for transforming Kerala into a much sought after destination for national and international-level seminars and conventions.This concessional rate will be applicable only to the seminars and conventions approved by the tourism department.