♦ The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), Sarbananda Sonowal, launched the ‘Cruise Bharat Mission’ from the Mumbai port on 30 September 2024. Sonowal said that the mission aims to propel the country’s cruise tourism industry by doubling cruise passenger traffic by 2029. He further said that the government is committed to harnessing the tremendous potential of the Blue Economy of India.

♦ Sarbananda Sonowal launched the mission from onboard cruise ship ‘Empress’. The initiative aims to excel India’s vision to become a global hub for cruise tourism and promote the country as the leading global cruise destination. The Cruise India Mission will be implemented in three phases, beginning from 1 October 2024 up to 31 March 2029.