IMPROVING THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF CRUISE TERMINALS IN INDIA

India’s potential for cruise tourism is obvious, given its 7,000 kilometres of coastline and extensive network of lakes and rivers that remain unexplored. However, India is relatively low on the global cruise tourist map due to a lack of infrastructure. The explanations are numerous and frequently covered at all travel conferences. The government has made grand statements about its infrastructure expenditures, but the nation’s cruise sector believes there has been little real commitment. For the cruise industry to flourish, infrastructure is crucial. Sadly, according to Vivian Peres, Director of Ventours International Travel, a cruise tourist tour provider, India does not have it. “In major ports like Mumbai, the infrastructure will collapse if two ships call there each day. In terms of the infrastructure amenities for cruise passengers, cruise terminals compete with one another on a global scale. We still have a long way to go as a nation,” said Peres. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to demonstrate the necessary infrastructure improvements for cruise terminals in the context of India, with the ultimate goal of developing both cruise terminals and cruise tourism in the country. The main areas of infrastructure development that could be taken into consideration for cruise terminals in India are outlined in this paper.