The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways had organize the 1st Incredible India International Cruise Conference in Mumbai on May 14-15, 2022. The conference brought together leading cruise operators from around the world to discuss the development of India’s waterways.
During the conference, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) shared its efforts to improve draft and navigational aids in India’s waterways and the construction of jetties. As a result of these efforts, MoUs were signed with three private companies, Heritage River Journeys Pvt. Ltd., Antara River Cruise, and J.M. for the promotion of river cruises in India.
One of the significant outcomes of the conference was the start of India’s first longest river cruise from Varanasi to Dibrugarh Assam via the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route on January 13, 2023. This has led to increased bookings on several river cruises on the Ganga, Brahmaputra, Kerala Backwaters, and Odisha, among others. The Ganga Vilas Cruise service, operated by Antara River Cruise, is one such example.
The MV Ganga Vilas vessel was procured by Antara River Cruise, a private operator. The IWAI is responsible for the development and regulation of National Waterways for shipping and navigation and acts as a technical facilitator for river cruise tourism. The IWAI provides pilotage and escorting services to ensure safe navigation for vessels. It is noteworthy that the IWAI has not incurred any specific expenditure for river cruises, as the infrastructure developed for cargo vessels is also utilized by river cruises.
