Vizag gears up to become major cruise destination

Visakhapatnam: After the phenomenal response to the first-ever visit of The World, renowned for its unparalleled luxury and exquisite services to the super-rich people from the world-over who own condominiums available on-board the luxury cruise liner, Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) has decided to hold a stakeholders' meeting here soon to discuss on promotion of cruise tourism.

Visakhapatnam International Cruise Terminal (VICT) built at a cost of Rs 96.05 crore with a capacity to hold 2,000 passenger vessels was inaugurated in September, 2023. The world-class facility is expected to transform Visakhapatnam into a hub of cruise tourism.

All those concerned with cruise tourism, investors and top officials from Andhra Pradesh Tourism Department, AP Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC), travel operators and hotel industry, will be involved in the meeting for a soul-searching discussion shortly.

"Based on the feedback, we will adopt a short-term and long-term cruise tourism promotion strategy with scope for mid-course corrections whenever required," VPA Chairman M Angamuthu, told Bizz Buzz.

He said at the same time, they are also trying to entrust the job of operations and maintenance to a private player familiar with the industry as cruise terminal management is a highly specialised domain. He said they have decided to involve the State Government authorities actively in promoting cruise tourism as a lot of support is required to aggressively showcase the tourist potential and infrastructure in and around Visakhapatnam. Dr Angamuthu said as a result, cruise tourism will generate a lot of employment opportunities to the locals directly and indirectly and fetch revenue mostly forex as Visakhapatnam has bright scope to attract regular inflow of international travellers.

During the short visit of The World, the visitors who have travelled extensively to various tourist destinations in the world, were thrilled to see the panoramic view of valley and sea in the City of Destiny and enjoy the warmth and hospitality of its people during their interactions and visit to places of interest. As the global interest in cruise tourism continues to ascend, VPA is uniquely positioned to emerge as a leading cruise destination within India. The insights garnered from the discussions at the 15th Task Force Meeting on Cruise Tourism provided a robust foundation for formulating a comprehensive strategy to elevate and amplify cruise tourism in Visakhapatnam.

This strategic outline is designed not only to capitalise on the existing opportunities but also to develop new prospects that align with global trends and local strengths. Through the implementation of targeted initiatives and the fostering of strategic partnerships, Visakhapatnam Port can significantly enhance its appeal to both domestic and international cruise lines, thereby augmenting its status as a key player in the global cruise tourism market.

The approach will leverage the region's cultural, historical, and natural assets, ensuring a sustainable and prosperous cruise tourism ecosystem, Dr Angamuthu said. To optimise the considerable cultural assets of Andhra Pradesh, it has been proposed to incorporate cultural and historical shows, exhibitions, and performances into the onshore excursion for cruise passengers. This initiative seeks to provide an enriching experience that highlights the State's diverse cultural heritage and history, transforming these elements into captivating attractions that enhance the tourist experience significantly.

The Chairman said collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and local cultural institutions is essential to ensure that these cultural showcases are seamlessly integrated into the cruise itineraries. By working closely with these entities, it is possible to curate content that is not only authentic and engaging but also educational.

The strategic development of local areas like Simhachalam, Araku, Bheemili, Kakinada, Rajahmundry, Sankaran and Borua into cultural hubs require meticulous planning and execution.

'"With proper home work and involvement of all the stakeholders, Visakhapatnam has the tremendous potential to become a hub for cruise tourism mainly by offering regular packages to Singapore, Colombo, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Colombo, Bangkok and other popular destinations," Littoral Cruises Chairman Raja Vaiz, told Bizz Buzz. He said they are making efforts to run a cruise liner between Chennai and Singapore en route Visakhapatnam.