A new cruise terminal with facilities capable to handle 5.000 tourists will have been created at the Ernakulam Wharf of Cochin Port in India by February 2020. This comes after the Cochin Port Trust issued a work order for commencing the construction of the new Cruise Terminal.
The new facilities will be in a 2.253 square meters area, and will include passenger lounge, crew lounge, 30 immigration counters, 8 customs clearance counters, 7 security check counters, wifi, tourist information counter, duty free shopping, medical care, and more, Shri A V Ramana, Chairman, Cochin Port Trust, informed.
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In the recent years, India is taking initiatives to promote cruise tourism in the country. This includes better tariffs for cruise vessels, exemption of cruise tourists arriving with e-visa from biometric enrolment, constitution of Task force and implementation of Standard Operating Procedures.
Despite the fact that, the port is not gaining much from handling of cruise lines, it is estimated that every cruise tourist spend on an average 400 US Dollars per day during their local visits.
In order to support local trade Cochin Port Trust has been offering space to local tourism entrepreneurs inside the wharf during cruise arrivals at a very nominal rate to facilitate kiosks/ stalls for selling handicrafts/ curios to the tourists.
Shri A V Ramana added.
Today, cruise vessels with length up to 260 meters are handled at the BTP berth and Samudrika, the cruise passenger facilitation centre. However vessels with more than 260 meters are handled at Ernakulam Wharf, where the new cruise terminal will be.
Finally, to support tourism infrastructure in the Cochin port area, India has made available funds for a cruise passenger facilitation centre, waterside walkway between BOT bridge and Kannaghat bridge in Willingdon Island and a dedicated cruise berthing facilities at BTP.
