Cruise tourism on the rise in India

India's cruise tourism industry could witness an increase in domestic and international passengers at Indian ports from the current level of 180,000 to 600,000 a year by 2010, according to a new study.

The study, jointly carried out by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and knowledge service ...

Though the country has 12 major ports and 185 minor ports with a 7,500-km-long coastline, the cruise industry has failed to attract much attention due to lack of necessary infrastructure, government policy and taxation, the study said.

This sector is a fast-emerging and a marketable product, growing at the rate of 12 percent annually globally.

While cruise tourism annually generates around $15 billion worldwide, with a passenger base of over 10 million, India's share is only two percent.