Cochin (Kochi), India is set to get a fillip as cruise destination even as Cochin Port Trust readies its new cruise terminal for opening by late 2018, with Europe’s leading cruising line Costa Cruises announcing its 3-4 nights cruises from Mumbai to Kochi to Maldives.
Nearly 4 dozen cruise ships carried visitors to Cochin last fiscal year, giving a major boost to tourism sector, especially turnaround tourism where cruise passengers are transferred to flights and vice-versa. The opening of the new terminal which is currently under tender process will be a milestone in the expansion of the sector.
The 3-night Kochi-Maldives and 4-night Mumbai-Kochi services of Costa will be launched in November 2017. The Mumbai-Kochi service is through Mangalore and the services are aimed at tapping a market of holiday-makers from the state who wish to go on short cruises.
India's cruise industry market has come a long way from just a select group sailing to far-away locations to today a wider audience holidaying on vessels cruising directly from India.