In a bid to unlock the potential of cruise tourism in India, Mumbai Port Trust, in collaboration with the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and the Indian Ports Association (IPA), will host a high-level conference titled ‘Waterways to Wonder: Unlocking Cruise Tourism’ in Mumbai on Monday.
The event will bring together policymakers, industry leaders and stakeholders for presentations, panel discussions and deliberations on strategies to accelerate India’s cruise tourism sector. Key topics on the agenda include policy and regulatory frameworks, strategic vision for cruise tourism, cultural and coastal itineraries, cruise terminal best practices, smart operations, and green port strategies.
The Ministry of Tourism, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, and other stakeholders will join the discussions. The event will also feature a presentation by the NAVIC Cell 4 — a specialised unit of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) focused on ocean, river, lighthouse tourism and ferries. NAVIC Cell 4 envisions positioning India as a global cruise tourism hub by developing sustainable ocean and river cruise circuits.
Vijay Kumar, Chairman of IWAI and Nodal Officer of NAVIC Cell 4, will deliver the keynote address. IWAI, a key body under the Government of India, has been at the forefront of advancing inland water transport and promoting river cruise tourism through sustainable infrastructure, technology-driven operations and regulatory reforms.
The conference will conclude with a preview of India Maritime Week (IMW) 2025, scheduled for October, which will highlight growth opportunities, reforms and global collaborations in the maritime sector.
India is also pursuing ambitious port modernisation targets under the Public-Private Partnership model, aiming to expand cargo handling capacity from the current 2,760 MTPA to 3,500 MTPA by 2030 and 10,000 MTPA by 2047.