Mangaluru, 31 July 2026: The Karnataka Government has taken another step towards developing cruise tourism in Mangalore. One of India's leading cruise operators, Waterways Leisure Tourism Limited, has agreed in principle to study the possibility of starting cruise services from the coastal city.
The decision followed a meeting held in Mumbai between senior officials of the Karnataka Tourism Department and representatives of the company. The discussions covered port infrastructure, operational requirements, tourism potential and commercial opportunities for launching cruise operations from Mangalore.
Technical Team to Visit Mangalore
As the next step, the company's technical team will visit Mangalore next month to assess the port, tourism facilities, operational feasibility and other infrastructure needed for cruise services. Based on the findings, the Karnataka Tourism Department will decide the future course of action.
Government Plans Cruise Tourism Growth
The initiative comes under the direction of Tourism and Energy Minister K. J. George, who has asked the department to engage with leading cruise operators to promote Karnataka's coastline as a tourism destination. The company also suggested conducting a detailed study of tourist demand and preparing a strong marketing strategy to promote Mangalore nationally and internationally.
"Karnataka's coastline offers immense potential for cruise tourism. The Government is committed to developing this sector by engaging with leading industry players and creating the necessary infrastructure and enabling ecosystem. This initiative will not only strengthen coastal tourism but also generate employment opportunities and attract investments to the region." - K. J. George, Tourism Minister
International Cruise Terminal Under Study
Meanwhile, officials from the Karnataka Tourism Department recently visited the Mumbai International Cruise Terminal to study its passenger facilities and operations.
Following the visit, Tourism Secretary Dr. V. Ram Prasath Manohar, IAS, directed officials to carry out a preliminary feasibility study for developing an international-standard cruise terminal in Mangalore. If approved, the project could improve coastal tourism, create jobs and attract new investments to Karnataka's coastline.
"The in-principle agreement by Waterways Leisure Tourism Limited to explore cruise operations from Mangalore is a significant development. The company's technical team will undertake a detailed site assessment, following which the Department will take the next course of action based on its findings. At the same time, we are also examining the feasibility of establishing an international-standard cruise terminal in Mangalore." - Dr. V. Ram Prasath Manohar, IAS, Secretary, Department of Tourism
Keywords
Mangalore cruise tourism, Karnataka tourism, Cruise services Mangalore, K J George, Waterways Leisure Tourism, Mangalore Port, Karnataka cruise terminal