KOCHI: The Kochi port may be struggling to attract more container vessels. But on the tourism side, its prospects seem to be quite safe, remaining the hottest cruise destination.With the tourist season set to start in November, more and more vessels are scheduled to visit Kochi for the six months starting October. By the end of March 2012, the Kochi Port will have hosted 50 cruise vessels in the current financial year. Chennai-based Amet Cruises will start its Kochi- based operations this week. For the six-month period from October 2011, to March 2012 alone, 35 cruise vessels are scheduled to call at Kochi. These include large vessels such as Cunard’s ‘Queen Elizabeth’ and Royal Caribbean International’s ‘Brilliance of the Seas.’ Around 38,000 high-spending passengers and 13,800 crew members are expected to visit Kochi.“The number of vessels coming to Kochi proves that Kochi remains the popular cruise destination. The shipping companies are getting good feedback about Kochi, which prompted them to include it in their itinerary. ""Another attraction is the discount for cruise vessels announced by the port management recently,” said C Jayaprakash, branch manager of J M Baxi, the agent for 90 percent of the vessels coming to Kochi this season.Considering the arrival of cruise vessels, the port management has developed a cruise vessel reception facility at BTP berth. The existing pavilion built for the Volvo Ocean Race held two years ago will be used as a cruise terminal. The 1,500 sq ft space of the available 3,600 sq ft will be developed for passenger facilities in the first phase while the remaining space will be allotted to private parties for business purposes. The pavilion is being developed with a terminal using an aid of Rs. 7 crore which is expected to be allotted from the Union Ministry of Shipping. Though a feasibility report and business plan were finalised for a cruise terminal project, the project was temporarily put off considering the huge investment.
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