Cochin Port Trust is planning to build a new cruise terminal able of handling 5,000 travellers at Ernakulam Wharf.
The estimated cost of building is ₹25.72 crore (Indian rupee, equal to US$3,741,363), of which ₹21.41 crore (US$3,114,408) has been sanctioned by Tourism Ministry, according to AV Ramana, port's Chairman.
The facilities inside the new cruise terminal in Cochin, having 2,253m2 area (24.251ft2), will include crew lounge, passenger lounge, 30 immigration counters, 8 custom clearance counters, 7 security check counters, tourist information centre, WiFi, and parking area.
Currently, cruise ships having length up to 260 metres are handled at BTP berth in the port and the cruise passenger facilitation centre Samudrika. However, vessels of larger size are handled at Ernakulam Wharf.
Kochi is among the prime cruise tourism destinations, and has been getting about 40 cruise liners per year, bringing HNI tourists to Kerala.
The port is not gaining much from cruise lines due to heavily subsidised tariff, but has been highly beneficial to local tourism trade and economy, because the average spending of a cruise passnger will be on an average US$400 per day during local calls, Ramana said.