Kerala has proposed developing Vizhinjam as an international cruise tourism hub, with a dedicated terminal, immigration and customs facilities, visitor services and organised excursions intended to bring more foreign tourists to southern Kerala. Tourism and Culture Minister P C Vishnunadh outlined the plan in a reply in the state Assembly.
The proposed facilities include a cruise terminal, immigration and customs infrastructure, a tourist information centre and other passenger services. The plan also envisages day trips and heritage tours for international cruise passengers arriving at Vizhinjam.
According to information from the Kerala Maritime Board (KMB), Vizhinjam is located about 10 nautical miles from the international east-west shipping route and has access to major road and rail networks. Thiruvananthapuram’s international airport is around 12km from the port, providing an air connection for passengers and supporting services.
The proposed shore excursions would cover destinations in and around the capital district, including Kovalam, Varkala and the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple. The tourism offering is expected to combine beaches, cultural heritage and religious attractions during cruise ship port calls.
Immigration and customs facilities would be required to process international passengers, while dedicated visitor services and tourism information infrastructure would help coordinate local transport, excursions and other travel requirements. The proposal could also create activity for hotels, transport operators, tour companies, local businesses and other tourism-linked services, although the government has not specified the likely scale of employment or revenue.
Vizhinjam’s proposed cruise role builds on earlier maritime tourism planning. In a 2024 expression of interest document, the Kerala Maritime Board said the port had hosted more than 20 foreign cruise vessels since 2009, bringing in more than 3,350 foreign passengers. The document also referred to the possibility of developing a dedicated cruise berth at Vizhinjam during a future phase of port development.
The state has separately examined coastal cruise services connecting ports in Kerala with destinations in neighbouring states. The proposed network would include Vizhinjam, Kollam, Kochi and Beypore, potentially linking maritime tourism with passenger travel along the state’s coastline.
The announcement places Vizhinjam within a wider effort to use port infrastructure for tourism as well as maritime activity. However, the current information does not specify the project’s implementation timeline, investment requirement, funding structure or development schedule for the proposed cruise terminal.
The next stages will depend on the government’s decisions on project design, passenger-processing infrastructure, investment and port development. No commissioning date or construction timetable has been announced.
