Tamil Nadu policy outlines coastal and island cruise routes
The state’s tourism strategy prioritizes cruise travel, including proposed links from Chennai to southern Tamil Nadu and Port Blair.
The Tamil Nadu Tourism Policy 2023 identifies cruise tourism as a priority and outlines connections from Chennai through Rameswaram to Kanniyakumari, along with a Chennai-to-Port Blair route. The framework seeks to use the port cities of Chennai, Nagapattinam and Thoothukudi while encouraging private operators to introduce coastal and island cruise itineraries.
A dedicated Cruise Passenger Facilitation Centre has been developed within Chennai’s port complex, providing immigration, customs and passenger-handling areas for cruise operations. Policy summaries indicate that Chennai would serve as a principal embarkation point on India’s east coast for the envisioned Port Blair route.
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways’ annual report for 2023 to 2024 documents the October 2023 launch of an international passenger ferry service between Nagapattinam and Kankesanthurai, near Jaffna in northern Sri Lanka.
Sagarmala documentation says fifty locations across several coastal states, including Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry, were identified for floating jetties in an initial phase.