Holidaying aboard a ship has found favour with families, honeymooners as well as MICE traveller. By Team Viva
The idea of going off on a holiday on a cruise ship took root in the minds of Indians sometime around 1997 when the film Titanic became a cult favourite. Fast forward to 2015 and Dil Dhadakne Do and a cruise became a must-do on the list of most well-heeled Indians.
It is not surprising then that in the tourism industry, cruising as a sector has been growing steadily. Worldwide, the cruise industry has an annual passenger compound annual growth rate of 6.55 per cent from 1990 - 2019. The total number of worldwide passengers carried in 2015 is around 22, 247,000 and in 2016 is 22, 935,000.
From India, the total number of cruise travellers from the last couple of years has been around 1, 00,000 and in 2016, that grew to around approximately 1,25,000. This year already there has been more than 1,25,000 travellers.
last year, the country witnessed 60,000 cruise tourists through 55 ships and there is a potential to increase it to 30 lakh cruise tourists. TIRUN, which deals with different cruises, is expecting a 60 per cent growth rate over the previous year in passenger bookings from India.
Furthermore, the government is diligently working at improving the ports and infrastructure and is serious about making cruise tourism its business. It is developing specialised cruise ports in India to attract international guests. The tourism ministry is working with various departments of the government to develop appropriate facilities.
The government plans to announce the country’s first domestic cruise service by October-end and major ports are set to cut berthing charges for vessels. A private entity is building a cruise ship that will start plying between Mumbai and Goa. Tourists would also have e-landing and e-visa facilities.
Varun Chadha, Chief Operating Officer, TIRUN, a pioneer of the cruise tourism industry in India and an exclusive India representative of Royal Caribbean Cruises ltd, says, “Asia is on top of the ladder with Singapore and Hong Kong, followed by Europe and Alaska. The Caribbean Islands have always been an attraction for Indians.”
As for the age profile, the cruiseliner passenger is anybody from 25 to 65 years. A cruise holiday is not just the preserve of the adventurous or boutique traveller, it is a hit with families and couples. MICE groups are also keen.
The growth has been driven by larger capacities and new builds of the cruise ships and ship diversification, more ports and destinations and new on-board/on-shore activities that match demands of consumers.
A recent survey by TIRUN showed up that a whopping 80 per cent were aware and wanted to go on a vacation. Chennai with 85 per cent people, Delhi with 69 per cent, Kolkata with 66 per cent and Bengaluru with 60 per cent of respondents expressed a desire to go on a cruise.
Chadha says, “Indians are travelling all over the world on cruises. We have seen growth in numbers for Europe, Caribbean and Alaska. Along with these, South East Asia cruises are becoming pretty popular for aspirant and first-time cruisers from India. New circuits like Baltic Sea have grabbed eyeballs too.”
Over the years, it is not just the rich and famous who are heading out on a cruise. “These holidays were once considered the preserve of the rich and the famous. What was traditionally a market for an elite class, seniors and retirees with stable income, has become a premium travel and holiday option available for honeymooners and the family market. Given the novelty and all inclusive value of the concept, corporates are increasingly turning towards cruising as a floating, experiential offsite option.”
Another trend that has been noticed is that the Indian travellers have turned extremely modern and experimental. They seek experiences that are novel and exciting.
“The immersive destination excursions, the onboard entertainment options and unparalleled levels of indulgence that are offered to them at sea are all enabling growth factors,” reasons Chadha.