India Hosts First ASEAN–India Cruise Dialogue to Strengthen Maritime Ties

In a landmark step to enhance regional connectivity and tourism, India hosted the first-ever ASEAN–India Cruise Dialogue in Chennai on July 1, 2025. Organized aboard the cruise ship MV Empress at Chennai Port, the dialogue witnessed participation from over 30 delegates representing all 10 ASEAN nations and Timor Leste, aiming to bolster maritime cooperation, sustainable tourism, and economic integration across the Indo-Pacific.

Why in News?

The ASEAN–India Cruise Dialogue has been organized for the first time in history, highlighting India’s strategic efforts to revive ancient maritime links, develop cruise circuits, and promote the blue economy under initiatives like Sagarmala and Act East Policy. It marks a major step toward strengthening cruise tourism and positioning India as a hub for regional cruise networks.

Objectives and Vision

• Strengthen maritime cooperation between India and ASEAN.
• Promote sustainable coastal and cruise tourism.
• Boost economic and cultural integration in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Support India’s Sagarmala initiative and ASEAN Community Vision 2045.

Key Highlights

• Hosted aboard MV Empress at Chennai Port.
• Participation from 30+ delegates representing 10 ASEAN nations and Timor Leste.
• Dialogue to continue in Mamallapuram, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with visits to historic monuments.

Thematic sessions on,

• Investment in cruise infrastructure
• Development of cruise tourism circuits

Ministerial Insights

• Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal emphasized professionalizing 5,000 km of navigable waterways.
• Vision to increase cruise passenger traffic to 1 million annually by 2029.
• Cruise network to align with Viksit Bharat 2047 and ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
• Minister of State Shantanu Thakur reaffirmed ASEAN’s importance in the Act East Policy and emphasized historical maritime links.

Static Information

• Sagarmala Project: Launched by the Government of India to modernize ports and develop coastal infrastructure.
• Act East Policy: India’s diplomatic outreach to strengthen economic and strategic relations with Southeast Asian nations.

Significance

• First formal initiative to integrate India’s cruise tourism with ASEAN routes.
• Establishes India as a strategic tourism partner in the Global South.
• Encourages foreign investment, enhances people-to-people ties, and promotes coastal heritage tourism.