Rameswaram and Kanniyakumari Tapped as Cruise Tourism Hubs in Tamil Nadu

Quick Summary

• Cruise tourism in tamil Nadu is being expanded with feasibility studies planned for locations like Rameswaram and Kanniyakumari.
• Proposed cruise routes include Devipattinam, Kurusadai Island, Kunthukal, villoondi Theertham, Agni Theertham, Kothandaramar Temple, and Arichal Munnai. Floating jetties are being developed to aid embarkation and disembarkation at select sites.
• Dialogues are underway with Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand following the ASEAN-India Cruise Dialog 2025 for enhancing regional cruise connectivity; an MoU already exists between India and Malaysia on cruise cooperation.
• Cordelia Cruise plans to base one ship entirely on India’s east coast with Chennai potentially serving as the home port.
• The upcoming India Maritime Week 2025 (October 27-31) will focus on maritime sector advancements including ports, shipping infrastructure, financing mechanisms, insurance frameworks for seafarers, choice fuels integration efforts as well as tourism potential in maritime zones.

Indian Opinion Analysis
India’s exploration of cruise tourism signals a broader push toward leveraging the country’s coastal geography for economic growth while boosting international collaboration within its maritime sector through initiatives like ASEAN connectivity dialogues. Developing specific destinations in tamil Nadu along structured routes may diversify local economies via enhanced infrastructure such floating jetty-installments fostering seamless-tourist flow organizationally tied operations backed MoUs).