VASCO: The domestic cruise tourism season of Goa this year ended on Wednesday with the Mumbai-Goa domestic cruise “Cordelia Empress” making its last call at the cruise berth of the Mormugao Port Authority (MPA).
M/s J M Baxi Shipping Agency Senior Manager Govind Pernulkar said that the domestic cruise ship “Cordelia Empress” had received a tremendous response from passengers across India as the ship brought in as many as 1,850 passengers to Goa on its last call and 1,000 passengers disembarked. The other passengers are on board the ship.
According to Pernulkar, the shipping agency handled around 42,000 passengers in Goa during the season and it helped to boost the State economy besides, helping many businesses like taxi operators and others related to tourism to generate revenues and employment opportunities for local community.
The ship made 26 calls to Goa during the season and it will now leave for Lakshadweep islands and return to Mumbai.
Pernulkar thanked all the departments of the MPA and agencies namely Customs, Immigration and the Police for their help and assistance to make the cruise tourism a success.
He said that during monsoon season the ship will stop its operations in the west coast and is now planning to operate on the eastern coast between Vishakhapatnam, Chennai and Puducherry. The operators are in talks with the Ministry of Shipping in this regard, he added.