Kerala Tourism is expected to gain from Cruise Tourism as record number of cruise liners are expected to arrive at Kochi port this tourist season. This year’s cruise season, which will last till May 2019, got under way with the arrival of Bahamas-registered MV Boudicca.

As per the schedule of cruise-liners till May 2019, 50 of them are expected to arrive in Kochi. Compared to this,  the number of cruise ships scheduled to arrive in Mumbai Port during the season is 44. The number of tourists arriving on board the cruise-liners is expected to touch 80,000 compared to the 48,000 during the last year.

The Cochin Port Trust has planned helicopter service to boost cruise tourism. A meeting with the stakeholders, including the Tourism Department, will be held this week. With the help of helicopters, the tourists arriving at the Cochin Port can fly to Munnar, Alappuzha and Wayanad in no time. Discussions are on with companies to set up a helipad at CPT.