Secretary(Shipping) said that three committees
were constituted, the first headed by Director General(Tourism),
Government of India for marketing of cruise tourism, the second
headed by the Chairperson, Mumbai Port Trust to go into the problems
of cruise tourism on the West Coast major ports of Mumbai, Mormugao,
New Mangalore and Cochin and the third at the port level headed
by the Chairmen of the respective major ports to go into various
local problems including handling of cruise ships at the ports.
Joint Secretary(Tourism), Government of India said that his department
has formulated a scheme for granting financial assistance upto
26% of the project cost subject to a limit of Rs.10 crores for
the development of cruise terminals.
The meeting took various decisions such as
constituting of two different standing committees; one at the
State level headed by Secretary (Tourism) of the concerned State
and the other at the port level headed by the Chairman of the
concerned port to go into the issues of promoting cruise tourism.
It was also decided that the ports should limit their activities
to provide land, water front and other infrastructure required
within the port. The rest of the things such as providing Consultants
to work out the requirements of cruise terminals in respect of
Mumbai, Cochin, New Mangalore and Tuticorin ports; providing financial
assistance to the ports to develop modern cruise terminals; marketing
of Cruise Tourism etc. would be looked after by the Department
of Tourism. It was also decided to include Tuticorin Port in the
cruise circuit comprising major ports on the West Coast. It was
also decided that Port Trusts should propose reduction of port
charges for attracting cruise liners in consultation with the
Ministry and Tariff Authority for Major Ports.
The Meeting was attended by Chairmen of Western
Ports, tourism officials of the Centre and concerned State Governments
and also Commissioner (Customs), Mumbai.
