New International Cruise Terminal at Cochin Port
KOCHI: With the aim of promoting tourism avenues in the state, the foundation stone for an International Cruise Terminal at the Ernakulam Wharf of Cochin Port was laid by Alphons Kannanthanam, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Tourism, on Saturday.
The estimated cost of construction of the terminal is Rs 25.72 crore and of this Rs 21.41 crore has been provided by the Union Ministry of Tourism. While inaugurating the terminal, he said the Ministry aims to bring in 50 lakh cruise tourists into India by 2040.
Being one of the prime cruise tourism destinations in the country, Kochi has been getting around 40 cruise liners every year bringing tens of thousands of high net worth international tourists to Kerala. Currently, cruise vessels having a length up to 260 metres are handled at the BTP berth and Samudrika, the cruise passenger facilitation centre of Cochin Port.
However, vessels having a length of more than 260 metres are handled at Ernakulam Wharf. It is in this context the new cruise terminal has been envisaged at Ernakulam Wharf. The construction of the new terminal is expected to be completed by February 2020. The new International Cruise Terminal has 2,253 square metres, would be equipped to handle up to 5,000 tourists.
The facilities inside the terminal would include passenger lounge, crew lounge, 30 immigration counters, 8 customs clearance counters, 7 security check counters, wifi, tourist information counter, duty free shopping, souvenir/artefact/curio shops, medical care, bookstore, mini conference hall, gaming zone, ATM/bank services, foreign exchange counter, cafeteria, luggage counter, toilets, parking area for buses and cars, trolleys, wheelchairs, etc.
The stone laying event was attended by K V Thomas MP, Richard Hay MP, Hibi Eden MLA, K J Maxi MLA, Mayor Soumini Jain, and A V Ramana, Chairman, Cochin Port Trust.