Cruise tourism can be a major multiplier for India’s travel and MSME sectors

The growth of MSMEs is being propelled by India's travel and tourism sector, and cruise tourism is consequently unlocking new possibilities for businesses in hospitality, logistics, transport, retail, and destination services. In this conversation with ET Digital, Varun Chadha, CEO, TIRUN Travel Marketing discusses how the cruise industry is evolving in India, the changing preferences of Indian travellers, and the opportunities that lie ahead as cruising moves from a niche offering to a mainstream holiday choice. Edited excerpts:

Varun Chadha (VC): Cruise tourism is a significant economic multiplier that extends far beyond the travel industry. It supports a large ecosystem of stakeholders, including travel advisors, tour operators, transport providers, visa assistance companies, port services, logistics operators, excursion providers, hospitality businesses, and local entrepreneurs. Globally and in India, the cruise sector contributes to employment generation across multiple layers of the value chain, supporting nearly two lakh livelihoods through direct and indirect opportunities linked to ports, logistics, tourism services, hospitality, and destination experiences.

Economic Times (ET): Travel and tourism is one of the largest contributors to India's services MSME ecosystem, supporting thousands of travel agents, tour operators, transport providers, and hospitality businesses. How has the growth of cruise tourism created new opportunities for MSMEs, and what role does TIRUN play in enabling this ecosystem?