Delhi, which usually hits headlines for all the wrong reasons in winters, given its glum winters and pollution, is set to get a glow-up this winter. From February, Delhiites will experience a luxury sailing experience on the Yamuna river as the Delhi government is set to launch a 40-seater luxury cruise experience. It’s part of the government’s larger riverfront tourism and recreation plan, as per Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra.
The cruise is in its final stretch of preparation. It will be transported from Mumbai to Delhi on January 20.”The cruise is nearly complete. I have come to Mumbai to personally inspect it. Once it reaches Delhi, the remaining technical work will be completed, and it will be launched in February,” Mishra said.
Mishra further mentioned that Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta is expected to inaugurate the cruise service, which will operate on the Yamuna to offer hour-long round trips. “The cruise will have a seating capacity of 40 passengers and provide onboard facilities, such as music, entertainment and food services,” Mishra said.
But this isn’t just about one luxury voyage. According to Mishra, the Yamuna cruise is only the first chapter in a bigger riverfront makeover for Delhi to develop recreation and leisure activities along the Yamuna river. “This will not be limited to a cruise service. Water sports, recreational activities and a full-fledged leisure zone are also being planned at the cruise terminal. The objective is to provide an international luxury experience at affordable prices for the people of Delhi,” Mishra said.
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The luxury cruise experience on the Yamuna is expected to allow Delhiites to enjoy experiences similar to those available in top tourist destinations in India, such as Goa, while staying inside their own city. The cruise service is part of the Yamuna River, rejuvenation and tourism development program. It aims to promote eco-friendly tourism and improve public engagement with the river.
The Delhi cruise service comes at a time when the Indian government has launched the Cruise Bharat Mission, which will have 1.5 million river cruise passengers travel over 5000 km of operational waterways in India. The initiative aims to bolster India as a global hub for cruise tourism while driving the local economy through job creation in hospitality, culture, entertainment, and more.
Globally, too, the cruise tourism market is seeing rapid growth. It was around USD 3.91 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to USD 9.42 billion by 2032, making it the right time to push for cruise services in the country.
