With a view to boost the local economy, generate employment and bring Karnataka’s cruise tourism to the forefront, the Karnataka Tourism Department is planning to extend the docking hours of the cruise in New Mangalore Port from 12 hours to 48 hours or more.

At present, the international cruises that operate out of Bahamas, Maldives, Norway and other countries arrive at the New Mangalore Port for a stop by for only 12 hours.

Thrilok Chandra K.V., Secretary, Department of Tourism, Karnataka, said, “The cruise tourism has a lot of opportunities. We are exploring ideas to promote it, so that it will ultimately boost local tourism, economy and generate employment among locals here. We are in talks with various international cruise operators to ensure that they park the cruise for a minimum two days. We are also in talks with the New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA) for the same.”

Cruise arrivals reduced

While the department is strategising to boost cruise tourism, the number of cruises post COVID-19 arriving at the Mangalore Port has reduced. According to the NMPA officials, the port handled 24 international cruises in a year before the pandemic but now, they are receiving only six to seven cruises in a year.

The official said, “We don’t have objections if the cruises are parked for more than 12 hours. The infrastructure is available at the port, and there will be no clashes in terms of their timings of arrival. Each cruise plans their trip two year prior, and we receive their message a few months prior to their arrival at the port.”

Mr. Chandra added, “The cruise tourism season is from October to May. This season, we have received quite a good number of tourists – around 2,500 people who arrived in seven different cruises. As we increase the number of hours of parking, the number of cruises arriving will also increase. At present, we have 16 to 17 berths at the port. It is a high-value tourism destination as the tourists can spend time visiting various beaches in Mangaluru, Udupi, and Uttara Kannada districts. Temple tourism will also get some boost at the same time. On an average, each tourist spends somewhere between 500 USD to 1000 USD which is good revenue for the State and the income for local people.”

No casino

Unlike Goa or Mumbai, the department has no plans to promote on shore or off short casino for international tourists. “We don’t want to promote casino because the local people here are not in favour of it. We also believe that even when there is no casino, tourists will still visit the place for its scenic places, food and beaches,” he said.

Study

In this regard, the Karnataka Tourism Society-Mangaluru Chapter, along with the Hospitality Sector led by the Tourism Department, has decided to conduct a detailed study of cruise tourism in other places, including Kochi in Kerala and Mumbai.

“The study will be completed before the monsoons end in Karnataka so that we implement our plans this November. We are also planning to include various cruise products, including five star hotel package, temple tourism, and beaches, at places such as Malpe, Panambur, Tannirbhavi, Murudeshwar, water sports like skiing, parasailing, banana boat rides and surfing, Kali river in Dandeli, Gokarna and other places. Of course, these places will be connected with one another for easy movement of tourists which will be figured out in future,” Mr. Chandra said.

Highlighting the need to put mechanisms in place, Yajnesh Karkera a resident of Mangaluru, who is into water sports, highlighted the need to develop berths at Malpe and Panambur beaches to park the cruise.

“At present, there is no space at the Malpe beach as the harbour is filled with ships meant for fishing and other purposes. The department must develop proper infrastructure in Panambur and Malpe beaches for these cruises and put precautionary measures in place so that no untoward incidents take place,” he said.