Cruise services are set to commence from the VICT in November 2023, with the arrival of a passenger vessel heading to Andaman.
According to M Angamuthu, chairperson of the Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA), the objective is to attract international tourists and put Vishakapatnam on the global cruise tourism map.
The completion of VICT will play a significant role in achieving this goal.
Highlighting the potential of Visakhapatnam’s hinterland, Angamuthu mentioned the presence of beautiful coastlines, lush hills, ancient temples, and Buddhist sites. These attractions make the region a promising destination for tourists seeking diverse experiences.
Regarding the business model, VPA will charge each passenger $6, while the cruise companies will be required to pay $0.085 per gross registered tonnage (GRT).
The VICT, a collaboration between VPA and the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, has the capacity to accommodate 2,000 passenger cruise ships.
Plans are underway to make VICT a cruise port of call, in partnership with cruise lines and the Chennai Port or Puducherry government, according to Angamuthu.
The VPA is currently in contact with three cruise lines, namely Cordelia, Royal Caribbean, and MSC Cruises.
The success of the cruise terminal will greatly depend on the tourism policy of the state government and its proactive approach to promoting tourism circuits in the surrounding areas.
Currently, the state government does not permit liquor and casinos onboard cruise liners, as confirmed by the owner of a major tour operating company.
Existing cruise packages available from India include routes such as Mumbai-High seas-Goa-Mumbai, Mumbai-Diu-Mumbai, Chennai-Trincomalee-Chennai, Mumbai to Venice, Mumbai to Male, Mumbai to Athens, Kolkata to Bangladesh, and Mumbai to Singapore. In collaboration with cruise lines, the VPA has plans to expand its services to include destinations like Chennai, Colombo/Trincomalee, Singapore, and Bangladesh. Additionally, they are exploring the possibility of offering coastal cruises to Orissa and the Sunderbans.
