Green Channel facility for Cruise Tourism passengers - Customs - F. No. 450/214/2015-Cus IV

F. No. 450/214/2015-Cus IV Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Revenue Central Board of Excise and Customs North Block, New Delhi Dated the 4 th January, 2016 To All Principal Chief Commissioner/Chief Commissioner of Customs All Principal Chief Commissioner/Chief Commissioner of Customs (Preventive) Principal Director General of Revenue Intelligence, New Delhi Subject: Green Channel facility for Cruise Tourism passengers - Reg. Sir, Cruise tourism in India and the efforts to boost it have been engaging the attention of the Government for quite some time. It is an emerging initiative and a very potent source of earning foreign exchange and a measure to generate the direct and indirect employment in the maritime States of India. This form of tourism carries in itself a lot of promise towards further popularizing the tourist sector in the Coastal India. 2. Keeping in view the emerging potential of the Coastal Shipping in general and Cruise tourism in particular, Board has decided to allow Green Channel facility to all the International Cruise Passengers who come onshore for tourism purposes. 3. It has also come to the knowledge of the Board that at some ports, domestic passengers who wish to travel between Indian Ports in a foreign Cruise vessel are not allowed to do so. Directorate General of Shipping in the Ministry of Shipping has vide order No. Sr-11021/1/2009-MG dated 6.2.09 granted cabotage relaxation permission to foreign flag ships carrying passengers to call at more than one Indian port for a period of ten years (copy enclosed). Thus, this relaxation allows foreign cruise ships/ vessels to transport Indian Nationals from one Indian port to another Indian port. Board has, therefore, decided that in view of the relaxation given by the Ministry of Shipping, Indian Nationals should be allowed to travel from one Indian port to another Indian port in a foreign cruise ships/ vessels during its domestic leg for tourism purposes. 4. Difficulties in the implementation of these instructions may be brought to the knowledge of the Board. Yours faithfully (Zubair Riaz) Director Customs GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SHIPPING DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF SHIPPING BETA BUILDING , 9 TH FLOOR I-THINK TECHNO CAMPUS KANJUR VILLAGE ROAD KANJUR MARG (EAST) MUMBAI 400 042 Date : 08.12.14 F. No. SD-13/POL(6)/2003 To The Chairman, Cochin Port Trust, Willingdon Island Kochi 682009 Kerala [Attn Shri Paul Anlony, Chairman] Subject : Carrying passengers from one Indian Port to another on Foreign Cruise Vessels reg. Sir, I am directed to refer to your e-mail dated 24.11.14 addressed to the Director General of Shipping and a letter No. DC/Cruise Cabotage/ 2014 dated 3.12.14 on the above subject. In this connection it is mentioned that in order to promote cruise shipping in India and keeping in view the unparalleled growth of cruise shipping world-wide, the Ministry of Shipping Govt. of India has considered relaxation of the provisions of section 407(1) of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 (hereinafter called Act) vide order No. SR-11021/1/2009-MG dated 6.2.09 which permits foreign cruise ships/vessels carrying passengers to call at more than one Indian ports without obtaining a license from the Director General of Shipping under section 407(1) of the Act. Therefore, this order allows foreign cruise ships/ vessels to transport Indian nationals from one Indian port to another Indian port. This Issues with the approval of the Director General of Shipping, Govt. of India. Yours faithfully, (G.L. Singh) Director (SD)