Gujarat Becomes First State to Support Cruise Bharat Mission

Gujarat has become the first state in India to join the Cruise Bharat Mission, a national initiative to boost cruise tourism. This move, announced in Ahmedabad, is expected to help Gujarat tap into its long coastline and develop new cruise circuits. It is a key step toward making India a top global cruise destination by 2029.

Gujarat Joins Cruise Bharat Mission

Gujarat has officially partnered with the Cruise Bharat Mission, launched by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on September 30, 2024. The mission aims to increase India’s sea cruise traffic tenfold by 2029. Gujarat’s decision puts the state at the forefront of India’s push to promote maritime tourism.

The state has the longest coastline in India, stretching 2,340 km, but lacked dedicated cruise terminals until now. With this alignment, Gujarat will now work to build cruise infrastructure like other ports in Mumbai, Cochin, Chennai, and Mormugao.

Cruise Circuits and Key Destinations

Gujarat plans to create several cruise circuits along its western coastline. These will connect popular tourist spots such as Diu, Veraval, Porbandar, Dwarka, Jamnagar, Okha, and the scenic Padala Island. The circuits will also support the existing Ghogha–Hazira Ro-Pax route.

To organize the tourism experience better, the coastal routes are divided into three clusters,

• Padala Island – Rann of Kutch
• Porbandar – Veraval – Diu
• Dwarka – Okha – Jamnagar

Each cluster links destinations within a 100-km radius, making it easy and enjoyable for tourists to visit religious, cultural, and natural sites.

A Model for Other Coastal States

By joining this national project, Gujarat is setting an example for other coastal states in India. It is not just building better tourism infrastructure but also aiming to attract investment, boost local employment, and promote cultural tourism.

The Cruise Bharat Mission is expected to bring major economic benefits by opening India’s vast coastline to international and domestic cruise travel.