River Cruise Tourism in India Records 19.4% Growth; 51 New Circuits Planned Under Cruise Bharat Mission
New Delhi, July 21: India’s river cruise tourism is charting a new course, with the number of cruise voyages on National Waterways rising sharply from 371 in 2023–24 to 443 in 2024–25, marking a 19.4% increase. The growth reflects the government’s focused push to enhance inland water-based tourism and infrastructure under the Cruise Bharat Mission.
According to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, 51 new cruise circuits will be developed on 47 national waterways across 14 states and 3 union territories by 2027, aiming to triple the number of cruise passengers from 0.5 million to 1.5 million in the next two years.
The landmark expansion is supported by major infrastructure enhancements led by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), including new terminals, on-shore/off-shore facilities, 24×7 navigation aids, and pilotage services—all contributing to improved navigational safety, passenger experience, and operator confidence.
Adding global momentum, Viking Cruises has announced its entry into India’s river cruise market. Its vessel, Viking Brahmaputra, an 80-guest luxury cruise ship, will operate on National Waterway-2 starting late 2027, built indigenously by Hooghly Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kolkata.
The sector has grown from 5 vessels on 3 waterways in 2013–14 to 25 vessels operating across 13 national waterways in 2024–25, under the leadership of Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for integrated and eco-friendly transport systems.
One of the major milestones was the MV Ganga Vilas, which in January 2023 completed the world’s longest river cruise from Varanasi to Dibrugarh, covering 3,200 km across 27 river systems and earning a place in the Limca Book of Records. Other thriving cruise routes include the Sundarbans (West Bengal), Brahmaputra (Assam), and Alappuzha (Kerala).
IWAI has also partnered with several states—Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir—to promote river cruise tourism on rivers such as the Narmada, Yamuna, Jhelum, Ravi, and Chenab. Dedicated cruise terminals are being developed in Varanasi, Guwahati, Kolkata, Patna, and four more in the Northeast at Silghat, Biswanath Ghat, Neamati, and Guijan.
The Cruise Bharat Mission emphasizes eco-friendly tourism, deployment of green vessels, and the creation of new employment opportunities across the cruise tourism value chain, positioning India as a key destination in the global river cruising map.
