Maritime Tourism- Emerging potential
The burgeoning sector of maritime and coastal tourism in India is indeed a treasure trove of opportunities, blending adventure, scenic beauty, and cultural heritage. A well-structured Maritime Tourism Master Plan can serve as the blueprint for sustainable development, bringing together infrastructure, policy reforms, and private sector participation. Maritime or Coastal Tourism is the new emerging sector a hitherto unexplored territory. It can be both adventurous and scenic. The concept of coastal tourism includes tourism, leisure, and recreationally oriented activities in the coastal zone and immediate offshore coastal waters like Lighthouse tourism, cruise tourism, and Island and Marinas augmented by seaplane services. The global coastal and maritime tourism market size was estimated at USD 2.9 trillion in 2021 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 5.7% from 2022 to 2030, according to Grand View Research, Inc.
We are familiar with cruise tourism and fifty percent of the coastal tourism market is from cruise tourism. In 2019, the global cruise industry welcomed 29.7 million passengers, created jobs for 1.8 million people around the world, and contributed over $154 billion to the global economy occupying 2% of the travel industry but growing at 7%. Operated by liners the cruise ship provides a luxurious stay at sea with sightseeing. Today’s largest cruise vessels are 135000 Goss tonnage and can carry 5000 Passengers in 3000 rooms. The development of Coastal berths and specific cruise berths has resulted in liners connecting our terminals also. In addition, Indian entrepreneurs have also started their cruise services and the government has also supported the sector.
Cruise tourism in India has remained limited to six major ports – Mumbai, Mormugao, New Mangalore, Cochin, Vishakhapatnam, and Chennai. Central financial assistance for the development of tourism infrastructure in the country supports initiatives like infrastructure development of ports, purchase of ferries, development of river cruise circuits, etc. Foreign flag vessels carrying passengers are allowed to call at Indian ports till Feb 2025 without obtaining a license from the Director General of Shipping. Standardized Operating Procedures (SOPs) for cruise vessels have been revised and operationalized w.e.f. November 2017 at all Major Ports . The E-visa facility has been extended to five seaports, namely Mumbai, Mormugao, New Mangalore, Cochin, and Chennai. India’s first domestic cruise liner, Angriya, has made many voyages on the Mumbai-Goa Sea route.
Locations like Alleppey/Sundarbans/Varanasi/Andamans/Lakshadweep etc are spots where the liners call in, The target is to escalate passenger footfalls from 450,000 pax in 2020 to 15,00000 by 2030 by setting up cruise shipyards and developing international Indian liners, etc
The newer emerging areas for tourism are the lighthouses, a towered structure set up over a coastline to emit intense light beams for aiding mariners and local fishermen. It marks dangerous coastlines and provides for safe entry to the Port. Currently, India has 194 lighthouses along the coastal line & its Islands. According to the lighthouse directory, there are nearly 18500 lighthouses in the world. With 436 meters the lighthouse at Jeddah in Saudi Arabia is the tallest among them. World over the construction of lighthouses has picked up attracting tourists where being near the coastal landscape people can have a scenic view. Facilities like amphitheatres, theme parks, and maritime heritage projects are planned.
India has nearly 185 lighthouses, being an ancient maritime nation, we have ample scope for the development of our lighthouses. Many of these lighthouses on our coast were erected in the 18th century and many are remnants of ancient lighthouses. A lighthouse created by Pallava king Mahendra Varman -1 in the 7th century is still situated at Mahabalipuram near Chennai which was renovated in the 19th century by the British and is being planned now to be developed as a major tourism hub. The same is the case with the lighthouses at Dwaraka in Gujarat, Minicoy islands, and Kanyakumari in Tamilnadu.
Having identified this emerging trend and its tourism potential, the Government of India, has identified 75 locations to be developed and 13 locations have been identified now by the Director General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL) for immediate development. There are also locations identified by the State Maritime boards for the development of tourism. The lighthouse in Bhavnagar near the Gopnath beach over the Gulf of Khambat was first built in the 19th century and is being constructed now as a major tourist destination.
India has a total of 1,382 off-shore identified islands consisting of 1,093 shapes (islands) and 289 Points (Rocky/Rocky Islets) under a database finalized by Surveyor General of India (SGI) in 2016. These islands also offer the potential for the development of marinas and recreational centers. Seaplanes are an effective link to connect islands lighthouses and marinas Have you ever travelled in a Sea Plane? In India Government-owned Pawan Hans launched a pilot project on 30 December 2010, at Juhu Aerodrome in Mumbai. Another service provider, Mehair, started services in 2011 in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and later expanded to Maharashtra and Goa Later the first flight from Port Blair to Havelock Island took place on 24 January 2011 Another governmental initiative to launch seaplane service in India was by Kerala in June 2013 and was again tried on a pilot basis landing at Bolgatty Water drome recently. The government of Andra Pradesh also made a test flight from Prakasam barrage In Vijayawada and Srisailam on the 10th of November 2024. However, the first ever commercial Seaplane Service in India was successfully launched between Sabarmati Riverfront & Statue of Unity on the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas on October 31st, 2020 by the hon PM of India. M/s Spicejet Technic was permitted to operate seaplane aircraft between the Sabarmati Riverfront and the Statue of Unity, Kevadia from Oct 2020 to 9th April 2021. . These private service providers however ceased operations due to commercial non-viability and issues over overhauling facilities
It is, envisaged that the Seaplane services will revolutionize the nation’s regional connectivity which will provide seamless service to passengers connecting remote locations. It will also augment regional and religious tourism. Currently, the Government of India has identified various locations for connectivity. India is endowed with a 7,515 Km long coastline, over 14,500 Km of navigable waterways and two key island archipelagos with 1000+ islands. We have an immense potential to develop this connectivity. Currently, the Mauritius government employs seaplane services, and is a typical example of best practice from the field.
The economic feasibility of commuting a few passengers through seaplanes is currently a challenge without compromising on safety which can happen only by economics of scale. Hope that small estuaries, towns, and islands in India will be connected by these machines in the times to come. With our intentions clear what is required now is to work on a detailed master plan for the development of a maritime tourism master plan as we move ahead towards a Viksit Bharat
