The Kerala government plans to develop Vizhinjam, near Thiruvananthapuram, as an international cruise tourism destination, with a dedicated cruise terminal and passenger facilities aimed at attracting international cruise liners, Tourism and Culture Minister P C Vishnunadh told the state assembly, according to Maritime Gateway and India Seatrade News.
The proposed facilities include a cruise terminal, immigration and customs facilities, a tourist information centre and other visitor services. The plan also envisages day trips and heritage tours for international passengers arriving at the port, with excursions proposed to Kovalam, Varkala and the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple.
According to the Kerala Maritime Board, Vizhinjam's deep-water port is about 10 nautical miles from the international east-west shipping route and has access to major road and rail networks. Thiruvananthapuram International Airport is around 12 km from the port, giving it strong air-sea connectivity for cruise passengers, the reports said.
The government said these advantages make Vizhinjam attractive for maritime tourism and international passenger movement, and that the initiative aims to expand tourism-linked economic activity in southern Kerala. No timeline or cost for the proposed cruise terminal was given in the assembly reply reported by the two outlets.