Gujarat Becomes First Indian State to Join Cruise Bharat Mission, Aiming to Boost Maritime Tourism.
National
In early July 2025, Gujarat became the first state in India to formally align with the Cruise Bharat Mission, a flagship initiative by the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways. This landmark move is aimed at transforming Gujarat into a globally competitive maritime tourism destination leveraging its extensive coastline.
- Gujarat’s landscape is uniquely suited for cruise tourism, boasting a 2,340 km coastline and navigable rivers such as the Sabarmati and Narmada. The state government has identified three primary cruise circuits—Padala Island–Rann of Kutch, Porbandar–Veraval–Diu, and Dwarka–Okha–Jamnagar—each offering shore excursions to religious, cultural, and scenic sites within a 100 km radius.
- To operationalize these plans, the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) held a major workshop involving ports, tourism, policy, and technical experts. Stakeholders such as Rajiv Jalota, Sushil Kumar Singh, Krishnaraj R, and Gautam Dey, alongside industry leaders, worked on port readiness, immigration protocols, cruise terminal frameworks, skill development, and a state cruise policy.
Main Point :- (i) GMB CEO Rajkumar Beniwal and Gujarat Tourism MD Saidingpuii Chhakchhuak unveiled plans to develop ‘cruise-ready’ destinations and shore excursions at key ports. The state also highlighted its Ghogha–Hazira Ro-Pax ferry service to support cruise connectivity.
(ii) Gujarat's participation marks the launch of its first-ever cruise tourism policy tailored to the Cruise Bharat Mission’s broader roadmap, which aims to increase sea cruise traffic tenfold by 2029 and position India among top global cruise destinations.
(iii) By establishing cruise circuits in Gujarat, the state sets a strong precedent for other coastal regions. The comprehensive strategy combines sustainable maritime development with culture-driven tourism, promising to generate jobs, spur local economies, and enhance India's Blue Economy.
About Gujrat
Chief minister: Bhupendra Patel
Governor: Acharya Devvrat
____________________________
