Kochi seems to have established itself as the
cruise destination in India; forty four luxury liners- with 58,000 tourists
aboard- called the city last year. Chairman of Cochin Port Trust Paul Antony
says that this business alone generated revenue of Rs 60 crore for Kerala.
Kochi port wants to up this number by a third this year, and is targeting Rs 80
crore; fifty calls by luxury liners have already been confirmed, according to
the Hindu Business Line.
Inaugurating a spanking Rs 7 crore cruise passenger
facilitation centre at Willingdon Island, Antony hoped that the 1500 square
metre dedicated terminal would allow Kochi to target new business. Large cruise
liners like Mariner of the Seas, Celebrity Solstice, Costa Atlantica and
Azamara Journey- with 3000 passengers each- were already being lured on maiden
visits. This is in addition to the German Aida Cruises that have been calling
Kochi since 2009; this year too, about 4000 tourists were expected from the
cruise ship Aida Diva in two calls.
Kerala Tourism Minister A. P. Anil Kumar told the Hindu that Kerala’s tourism
is growing at the rate of 14% as far as foreign arrivals are concerned, and
that the total number of tourist arrivals has crossed the impressive one-crore
mark.
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