Cochin port is turning out be the preferred sea-based tourist location with more luxury vessels set to call at the port in the current financial year.
According to port sources, already 40 international luxury liners had confirmed their call at the port in the current financial year, which is the highest in the history of the port and among all ports in India. So far, the advance confirmations were in a range of 20-25.
Cochin Port Trust officials expect the number to cross 70 this fiscal. During 2009-10, 51 calls were made by 45 vessels with around 30,000 global travellers visiting Kerala. Queen Victoria, one of the largest luxury vessels in the world, was the last ship to arrive at the port in 2009-10. Till April 7, five vessels berthed at the port with around 4,000 globe-trotters. This month The World, Spirit of Oceanus, Seaborn Odyssey, MV Colombus and Costa Romantica called on the port.
Albatros, AIDAcara, Costa Allegra, Azamara Quest, Europa and Princess Danae will arrive at the port in the next couple of weeks.
Kochi is now on top of the sea-based high-end tourism business in India with the largest number of ships arriving at the port. Mumbai, second in the row, had 33 vessels during last fiscal followed by Goa.
The port trust registered an income of Rs 1.2 crore in 2006-07, Rs 1.8 crore in 2007-08 and Rs 2.9 crore in 2008-09 through the various fees collected from these vessels.
With the number of vessels calling at the port on the rise, it expects a substantial increase in income in the coming years.