Fewer luxury vessels call at Cochin port

Flow of luxury vessels into the Cochin port has seen a decline with only 16 vessels confirming their visit to the port till March this year.

The total number of vessels calling at the port during 2008-09 will be 38, as against 42 in the previous fiscal.

The Cochin Port Trust and the state tourism department, which jointly organised the culmination of the second leg of the Volvo race, had expected a big leap in the visit of luxury ships to Kochi during and after the race.

Six vessels — Legend of the Seas, Azmara Quest, Seabourn Spirit, Nautica and MV Island Sky — visited the port during the visit of yachts, which participated in the Ocean race.

Experts in the tourism sector told Business Standard that the decrease in the number of vessels was due to the global economic slowdown. Since sea-based tourism is more expensive, this was having a serious impact on the sector and a major reason for the decline in the number of ships this season, they added.

A senior officer of the Cochin port said the stoppage of two domestic luxury tour operators —Super Star Libra and Ocean Odyssey — had badly hit the sector this time. Ocean Odyssey, which operated trips connecting Goa, Kochi and Lakshadweep, had visited Kochi ten times last year. The service of these shipping lines had provided a leverage to the domestic sea-based tourism sector in 2007-08.

In the New Year, 16 vessels had confirmed their visits during the January-March period. World’s leading luxury vessels —Queen Mary-2, Queen Victoria-2 and Seven Seas Voyager — will reach Kochi in March, carrying around 3,000 tourists.

A major problem facing Kochi is lack of tourism-based infrastructure facilities. The port also does not have a dedicated terminal to handle tourist vessels. Although a consultancy firm has been appointed for the purpose, the project is still limping even after four years of its announcement.