India eyes boosting cruise tourism with ASEAN nations: Sarbananda Sonowal

India is promoting cruise tourism with ASEAN member nations, Union Ports Shipping and Waterways Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal said Monday. Speaking at the first ASEAN-India Cruise Dialogue, the minister said India is committed to work closely with ASEAN member nations to co-operate and co-promote new cruise circuits.

“Together, we can establish an integrated cruise network linking India with ASEAN countries, through modern ports, efficient tracking systems and robust support mechanisms,” he added.

The meet hosted by India is being attended by all the member nations of ASEAN. These are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam along with Timor Leste.


Sonowal said India plans to professionalise 5,000 km of navigable waterways to enhance cruise connectivity with ASEAN nations. He noted the Sagar Mala initiative aims for one million cruise passengers by 2029, with ship calls rising sharply from 102 in 2013–14 to over 14,000 today.