Kochi cruises up the tourism charts

Kochi is fast becoming the destination of choice in South Asian for cruise liners from across the world.

Kochi is fast becoming the destination of choice in South Asian for cruise liners from across the world.

In this tourist season that began last November, as many as 32 cruise liners carrying around 11,500 passengers and 8,000 crew members called at Cochin port. Six more vessels with 5,000 passengers and 3,000 crew members are expected this month alone.

“Kochi’s proximity to the international sea route and a number of tourist spots within two or three hours away, are a great advantage for us, compared to Mumbai and Goa. We have also announced 33 per cent discount on berthing charges for cruise liners,” says Port Trust chairman N Ramachandran.

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He said the steps taken to simplify emigration and customs clearances have helped. “Passengers can now disembark from vessels almost as soon as berthing,” he said.

Passengers of Queen Mary 2, the world’s largest and most expensive liner that called at Kochi last week, spent more than Rs 2.5 crore in Kochi within 24 hours, an indicator of the kind of money spent when a cruise liner docks at the port. “Actually, cruise vessels do not contribute much to a port’s income, unlike container vessels. But they contribute significantly to tourism. When a container vessel berths, it brings income to a port by way of cargo-handling,” said Ramachandran.