Question : Cruise Ship Tourism

(a) whether the Government has exempted cruise tourists arriving with e-visa from the requirement of biometric enrolment at Major Ports in order to promote cruise ship tourism in the country and make India an attractive cruise ship tourist destination;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government proposes to simplify the immigration clearance procedure and provide the passengers with a customer-friendly and hassle-free logistics process when they embark/disembark from their cruise ship at the Indian ports and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Standard Operating Procedures to handle cruise ships has been revised and being implemented uniformly at all ports across the country; and
(e) if so, the details and salient features thereof?

(a)&(b):Yes, Madam. In order to promote cruise ship tourism in the country the Government has exempted cruise tourists arriving with e-visa from the requirement of biometric enrolment for the major ports of Mumbai, Cochin, Chennai, Mormugao and New Mangalore for a period of three years till 31st December, 2020.

(c)&(d):Yes, Madam. The Government has taken steps for customer-friendly and hassle-free immigration regime for cruise passengers such as implementation of e-visa and e-Landing cards at five Ports and exempting biometrics for cruise passengers arriving on e-visa till 31st December, 2020.
(e) The Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to handle cruise vessels and cruise passengers have been revised in November, 2017 in consultation with the stakeholders and have been implemented at five major ports which receive cruise vessels. The revised SOPs inter alia provide for submission of documents/data electronically, seamless entry and exit processes with Access Control & RFID for vehicles and persons and simplified Port Health Organization clearance procedure. It further provides for e-Landing card for shore excursion, doing away with face to face checks except at the first of entry and last port of exist and allowing carrying of valid photo I-card for Indian cruise passengers on domestic leg instead of the passport.
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