Goa to Get New Cruise Terminal - India Report

18.09.2024 - 04:11 / skift.com / Bulbul Dhawan

Goa is developing a new cruise terminal at the Mormugao Port, a response to a 40% increase in cruise passengers during the 2024 fiscal year and a 15% increase in calls by cruise vessels.

The international and domestic terminal is expected to be completed by next March. It will have duty-free retail shops, with the international terminal featuring 24 immigration counters, 10 check-in counters, and a waiting lounge among other amenities. The domestic terminal will have 12 check-in counters and waiting lounges. 

“This initiative will place Goa on the global map and enhance its brand image,” said Ryan Prazeres, co-founder of Goa-based sightseeing travel agency OneBoard App. But Prazeres pointed to other challenges that Goa faces.  

“It’s essential to gather insights from cruise passengers as well, especially since there have been reports of harassment from tours and taxi operators. If these issues persist, quality international tourists might be hesitant to visit Goa,” he told Skift. 

In an earlier interview with Skift, Intrepid Travel’s India general manager Rama Mahendru also pointed out the challenges that India needs to deal with to attract more international tourists: safety of female travelers, hygiene and sanitation, petty thefts and overcharging, and skilled labor.

Cruise Tourism Rise in India: India recorded its highest-ever cruise tourism footfall in the 2024 financial year: 470,000. In 2019-20, India had about 420,000 tourists. Nearly 80% of the cruise tourists last year were domestic, while the country waits for international cruise tourism to revert to pre-Covid levels. For context, pre-pandemic, the split was roughly equal. 

India is aiming to achieve a target of 1.5 million cruise tourists by 2030. 

Full-service airline Air India has begun the retrofitting of its 67 legacy aircraft. The $400 million retrofit program will include modifying the old fleet with the updated three-cabin configuration, new livery, and new seats.

The retrofit program commenced with the 27 narrowbody Airbus A320neo aircraft, followed by 40 widebody Boeing jets. The first aircraft went into the hangar for retrofitting on Monday, and Air India is expecting it to re-enter operations in December this year. 

Three to four aircraft will undergo the retrofit each month, and the full narrowbody fleet is expected to be upgraded by mid-2025. 

The program was expected to begin next year, and Air India has procured around 25,000 new seats. The cabin will get business, premium economy, and economy sections, joining the newly inducted Air India A320neo aircraft. 

The upgrade comes amid Air India’s merger with sister airline Vistara. The merger has been ongoing for 20 months and, as per Vistara’s statement, is expected to be