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The expedition of MV Ganga Vilas, which commenced its journey from Varanasi on January 13, has redefined the potential of river tourism throughout the South Asia region, said Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal.
“MV Ganga Vilas has opened up a new vista of opportunity in the river tourism potential in the entire South Asia region,” Sonowal shared during a recent Rajya Sabha session.
Sonowal added that this feat bore witness to increased bookings on various river cruises along the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Kerala Backwaters, and Odisha.
MV Ganga Vilas began its journey from Varanasi on January 13, 2023 covering a distance of 3,200 km through 27 river systems in India and Bangladesh, reaching Dibrugarh on February 28, 2023. The journey, flagged off by the Prime Minister, navigated through a multitude of destinations including Varanasi, Patna, Kolkata, Dhaka, Tangail, and more, presenting a vista of the natural and cultural places enshrined along the waterways.
In a recent interaction with ETTravelWorld, Raj Singh, Founder Chairman of Antara Luxury River Cruises which operates MV Ganga Vilas, revealed that the cruise, after its first journey completion, had swiftly achieved full bookings for the next two years. The cruise had gained substantial popularity, particularly among foreign tourists, who constituted 70 percent of the registered passengers, he shared, adding that the journey’s performance and reception had been extraordinary.
This initiative of running Ganga Vilas was undertaken under the aegis of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), tasked with the development and regulation of National Waterways.
Speaking further about its role, Sonowal said that the infrastructure established by IWAI, encompassing fairways, terminals, jetties, and navigation aids, serves as a foundation for river tourism operators as well. IWAI’s role is that of a technical facilitator for cruise and river tourism, he stressed.
Building upon its commitment, IWAI also completed an Action Plan and Detailed Road Map for the Development of River Cruise Tourism in India. This strategic blueprint, completed in November 2022, aimed to harness the latent potential of river cruise tourism while bolstering the share of visitors on these serene waterborne journeys, Sonowal shared.
While globally cruising is predominantly a market for senior citizens, it is Young India’s Gen Z, millennials and young working professionals that are displaying strong appetite for cruises (over 80 per cent vs pre-pandemic). A combination of factors has increased the appeal for this younger demography: an expanded portfolio of sailings in South/Southeast Asia – Middle East, a range of high adrenaline activities onboard and affordable price points coupled with easy access to financial models.
Notably, IWAI has also taken measures to create an ecosystem conducive to cargo, passengers, and tourists on India’s national waterways. Collaborating with cruise vessel operators and stakeholders, IWAI has undertaken infrastructural enhancements to boost river cruise tourism. IWAI is also making dedicated efforts to support the river cruise tourism ecosystem as evident through the provision of key infrastructure facilities, said Sonowal. These include floating pontoons for berthing, navigational fairways equipped with electronic navigation charts, on-demand pilotage services, collaboration with State Governments for seamless coordination, and assistance during vessel distress situations.
Additionally, Ganga Vilas’ journey’s inception was also celebrated at the 1st Incredible India International Cruise Conference 2022, organised by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways. The occasion witnessed the signing of MoUs with prominent cruise operators like Heritage River Journeys Pvt. Ltd., Antara River Cruise, and J.M. Baxi & Co., further augmenting the promotion of river cruises.
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