Gujarat to introduce a Cruise Liner Service between Mumbai and Porbandar

Gujarat government on 14 July 2013 planned to introduce a cruise liner service between Mumbai and Porbandar by the end of 2013 with the objective of promoting coastal tourism. The plan is to introduce a cruise ship, to be run by a private operator, which will take tourists from Mumbai to Porbandar and Kutch as part of a 3-day package.

The government has identified 17 beaches along the coastline and its focus is to develop coastal tourism in these places and make Gujarat a coastal tourism destination. Gujarat has the longest coastline among all Indian states which is 1600 km.

Planning Commission of India has sanctioned 120 crore rupees to develop coastal tourism in Gujarat and the funds will be utilised to create on-shore facilities and related activities. As part of the policy to promote cruise tourism, cruise vessels will be given berthing priority and no port fee will be collected from cruise liners for docking at the state's ports.

Meanwhile, Gujarat government has begun the process of upgrading 12 airports for night flying operations, enabling private operators to start intra-state flights. Around 2.75 crore tourists visited Gujarat during 2012-13 and the state is expecting a total inflow of 3.25 crore tourists by March 2014.