Sagarika International Cruise Terminal, Cochin

Sagarika - International Cruise Terminal at Cochin Port
Considering the immense potential for cruise tourism and its economic benefits to the local community and the State of Kerala the international cruise terminal has been constructed in an area of 2253m² at the Ernakulam Wharf at a cost of ₹25.72 Cr by Cochin Port Trust (under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways) with the financial assistance of the Ministry of Tourism.
The cruise terminal is ‘differently-abled friendly’ and has amenities including fully air-conditioned hall with passenger lounge, baggage scanners, trolleys, buggies , metal detectors, 10 counters for Customs clearance, 48 counters for Immigration, security check counters, public address system, toilet blocks, mobile charging & laptop plugging facilities, commercial space for cafeteria and duty-free shopping, ample space for vehicle parking with prepaid taxi counters. As part of prevention of COVID-19, the terminal has been made compliant with medical protocols.
Cochin Port plays host to about one lakh international cruise guests and crew members who arrive on some of the most luxurious cruise lines afloat. In the year 2019-20, Cochin Port hosted 44 cruise calls and has the potential to handle even more including home-porting of vessels that can operate voyages from Kochi to destinations like Maldives, Colombo and countries in the South-East Asia. Services can also be operated to domestic destinations like Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Tourism being a sector having high employment generating potential, in the recent years the Govt. of India has been taking various initiatives to promote cruise tourism that includes rationalisation of tariff for cruise vessels to a subsidised composite tariff, exemption of cruise tourists arriving with e-Visa from the requirement of biometric enrolment and constitution of task force for the implementation of Standard Operating Procedures.
Having a dedicated cruise terminal, which can host even the largest of the cruise ships afloat, opens up new vistas of business development. Once the adverse impact of COVID-19 pandemic subsides, the cruise business is expected to rev up not only international cruise arrivals but it would also throw open opportunities for domestic cruise tourism. More job opportunities would be created for tour operators, destination planners, travel agencies, tourist coaches-taxi operators, souvenir shops, house-boats, restaurants business, tour guides and innumerable small scale vendors.

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Amazing.