The tourism department is exploring options to promote cruise tourism in Mangaluru

With an aim to boost the local economy, create jobs and bring cruise tourism to the fore in Karnataka, the Karnataka Tourism Department plans to increase the docking hours of cruises at New Mangalore Port from 12 hours to 48 hours or more.

Currently, international cruises operating from the Bahamas, Maldives, Norway and other countries call at New Mangalore Port for a 12-hour stopover only.

Thrilok Chandra KV, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Karnataka said, “Cruise tourism has many opportunities. We are exploring ideas to promote it to ultimately boost local tourism, economy and generate employment among local people. We are in talks with various international cruise operators to ensure that they park the cruise for at least two days. We are also in talks with the New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA).”

The number of arrivals has decreased

While the department is preparing a strategy to promote cruise tourism, the number of cruises arriving at Mangalore port has reduced post-Covid-19. According to NMPA officials, the port handled 24 international cruises in the year before the pandemic, but now accepts only six to seven cruises a year.

The official said: “We have no objection if the cruises are parked for more than 12 hours. The infrastructure is available at the port and there will be no clashes in terms of timing of their arrival. Each cruise plans its journey two years in advance and we receive their report a few months before they arrive at the port.”

Mr. Chandra added, “The cruise season is from October to May. This season we have received quite a decent number of tourists – around 2,500 people arriving on seven different cruises. As the number of parking hours increases, so will the number of incoming cruises. We currently have 16 to 17 berths at the port. It is a very valuable tourist destination for tourists to spend time on various beaches. The areas of Udupi and At the same time, Uttara Kannada will get some support.On an average, each tourist spends something between 500 to 1000 USD, which is a good income for the state and income for the local people.

not a casino

Unlike Goa or Mumbai, the ministry has no plans to promote the coast or beyond the short casino to international tourists. “We don’t want to promote a casino because local people are not in favor of it. We also believe that even if there is no casino, tourists will still visit the place for its scenic spots, food and beaches,” he said.

Studies

In this regard, the Karnataka Tourism Society-Mangaluru Chapter along with the hospitality sector led by the tourism department decided to conduct a detailed study of cruise tourism in other places including Kochi in Kerala and Mumbai.

“The study will be completed before the end of monsoons in Karnataka so that we can implement our plans this November. We also plan to include various cruise products including five-star hotel package, temple tourism and beaches, at places like Malpe, Panambur, Tannirbhavi, Murudeshwar, water sports like skiing, parasailing, banana boating and surfing, these simple places will be connected to Go Kalina river in Dandeli and by others.the movement of tourists to be ascertained in future,” Mr. Chandra said.

Yajnesh Karkera, a resident of Mangaluru who is into water sports, stressed the need to put in place mechanisms and stressed the need to build berths at Malpe and Panambur beaches for boat parking.

“Currently, there is no space at Malpe beach as the harbor is full of boats for fishing and other purposes. The ministry must build proper infrastructure at Panambur and Malpe beaches for these cruises and put in place preventive measures to avoid any untoward incident,” he said.

Published – 21 Jun 2026 22:01 IST