India has made significant efforts to boost its cruise tourism industry, with a target of attracting 4 million cruise tourists by 2041, up from 300,000 in 2023. The country saw a record high of 470,000 cruise tourism footfall in the 2023-24 financial year, with domestic tourists accounting for nearly 80% of the total, as international cruise tourism has yet to fully recover from the impact of Covid-19. The popularity of cruise tourism among domestic tourists has increased significantly, with a growth of nearly 85% compared to 2019-20. Efforts are also being made to attract Indian tourists to cruise offerings in countries such as Singapore and Abu Dhabi.
In an attempt to boost cruise tourism, India has formulated a draft national strategy for tourism with the goal of making the country a preferred cruising destination across deep sea cruises, coastal cruises, river cruises, and yacht cruises. Cruise lines like Cordelia Cruises and Costa Cruise are currently operating domestic cruises in the Arabian Sea, while the government is looking to invest INR 450 billion ($5.4 billion) to develop river cruise tourism. India’s focus on enhancing cruise tourism is a part of its broader strategy to promote tourism and attract more visitors to the country.
The European Commission has introduced a new visa regime for Indians applying for Schengen visas, offering longer, multi-entry visas to Indian tourists. While multi-year visas with longer durations were already available to Indians, the new policy aims to standardize the issuing of such visas across all Schengen states. However, the new regime is not likely to expedite visa processing times, which remains a challenge for Indian travelers as they plan for their summer vacations. The move is expected to make it easier for Indian tourists to travel to European destinations.
India is set to launch its first bullet train in 2026, with construction work progressing well on various stations along the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train route. The project, covering a distance of 508 km, has seen progress on more than 290 km of the route. Initially scheduled for completion in August 2022, the project faced delays due to issues related to land surveys and acquisition. The introduction of the bullet train is expected to provide a faster and more efficient mode of transportation for passengers traveling between Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) has announced the relaunch of its Gateway brand after putting it on hold, with plans to introduce a reimagined full-service hotel offering in the upscale segment. The brand is seen as an ideal fit to tap into growth opportunities in emerging markets across metros, Tier 2, and Tier 3 cities. IHCL’s expansion plans include the opening of 15 Gateway hotels in Bekal and Nashik, followed by destinations like Bengaluru, Thane, and Jaipur. The company is also focusing on opening an average of two hotels every month in the 2024-25 financial year.
Corona India has introduced a sunset view rating system for luxury hotel rooms, the first of its kind globally. The system, currently being piloted at select hotel properties in India, aims to ensure that the sunset views from hotel rooms meet the advertised standards. Ratings will be given on a five-point scale based on factors like location, wind speed, AQI, and cloud cover. Sun tourism is gaining popularity among travelers, with destinations like Kanniyakumari, Manali, and Rishikesh being sought after for their sunset views. The initiative by Corona India is expected to enhance the overall experience for guests staying in luxury hotel rooms.
