PANAJI:
The first international cruise vessel of the tourism season, Celebrity Millenium, sailed into the Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) in the early hours of Monday, bringing a fresh wave of excitement as more than 2,000 passengers disembarked for a day in Goa. The arrival marked a promising start to the season, with port officials, tourism stakeholders and local operators describing the response as “encouraging” and “business-friendly”.
The Celebrity Millenium began its journey from Singapore and made port calls in Malaysia, Thailand and Sri Lanka before entering India via Cochin and proceeding to Goa. After completing its scheduled halt at MPA, the ship is set to depart for Mumbai on Monday afternoon.
According to MPA Traffic Manager Jerome Clement, the port is entering a phase of rapid tourism-oriented development.
Clement said that work on the international cruise terminal is progressing well and nearing completion, adding that the facility will significantly enhance MPA’s capacity to handle large vessels and improve the visitor experience. He further stated that the port is exploring additional tourism-linked infrastructure, including the long-discussed ropeway project and the marina project, both of which are expected to elevate Goa’s cruise tourism profile in the coming years.
The visiting tourists were greeted with a traditional welcome arranged by various tourism departments and operators. A brass band performed at the terminal area as passengers disembarked, while local tour managers stationed counters to guide visitors towards curated excursions across Goa. Officials said that city tours, heritage walks, beach excursions and spice plantation visits were among the most preferred packages booked by the travellers.
With the cruise season now officially underway and major tourism infrastructure nearing completion, port officials and stakeholders expressed optimism that Goa will witness a significant rise in international cruise arrivals over the next few months, contributing to both tourism growth and economic activity in the Mormugao region.
