India and ASEAN collaborate on Caribbean-style cruise tourism circuit

India is working with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to strengthen maritime cooperation, enhance cruise shipping connectivity, and promote sustainable tourism across the Indo-Pacific region, said the Indian government. India is hosting the second edition of the ASEAN Cruise dialogue, and this is the first time that the event is being held in India. According to officials, the plan is to develop a route similar to the Caribbean cruise circuit in India’s neighbourhood. A Caribbean cruise circuit refers to a planned route that a cruise ship follows as it sails through various ports in the Caribbean Sea. It typically starts from one port, visits two or three other ports and returns to the origin port, making it a loop or circuit.

India is hosting a high-level multilateral dialogue in Tamil Nadu, bringing together representatives from all ASEAN member countries—Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Timor Leste. The meeting, held as part of the second ASEAN Cruise Dialogue, aims to strengthen regional collaboration in cruise shipping and unlock its untapped potential.

Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal emphasized the importance of fostering deeper maritime cooperation to boost the cruise industry across the Indo-Pacific. As part of the event, delegates will explore Mamallapuram, a UNESCO World Heritage town near Chennai, known for its iconic shore temples and rock-cut monuments. The visit will spotlight heritage-led cruise tourism and India’s rich coastal cultural appeal, reinforcing shared efforts toward sustainable tourism and expanded ASEAN–India connectivity. Event participants include government officials and policy leaders, as well as industry leaders from the region. They are also deliberating on connectivity gaps, regulatory best practices, and pathways to promote inclusive and sustainable cruise growth in the region. The Government of India envisions the ASEAN–India Cruise Dialogue as a recurring multilateral forum that will serve as a strategic enabler for regional maritime growth and people-to-people connectivity. This edition marks a significant step in positioning India and ASEAN at the centre of cruise tourism in the Indo-Pacific.