Cruising gains traction in India
As India is a growing market in the cruise sector, the growth has been slow but steady. However, MSC Cruises is positive that the pace of growth will gain momentum in future.
MSC Cruises started operating in India in 2008, and since then their growth has been steady. Amit Mathur, Country Head – India, MSC Cruises, said, “We ended 2013 on a positive note, and in spite of tough conditions, the business grew for us.”
Today, MSC Cruises is one of the fastest growing cruise-liners in the world, added Mathur. “India is still a nascent cruise market, hence the number of travellers to Europe, Caribbean and South America are less. Price is another crucial factor for Indian travellers, though our pricing strategy is flexible enough.”
What has worked for the firm in India is that they responded quickly to the needs of the Indian consumer, such as serving Indian meals on board. “Indians still prefer 2 – 3 night sailings, but that is changing, and more people want to experience 7-8 night cruise holidays.”
He added, “India has a vast coastal boundary, and on a wishful note we require sailings from India. I am sure in mid- to long-term, a lot of focus will shift to India for all major cruise liners.”
In 2014, they added Caribbean itineraries to their portfolio with MSC Divina, which will sail from Miami yearround. This is in addition to their existing popular sailings in Mediterranean and North Europe, and they also have seasonal sailings in the UAE, South Africa and South America.
Talking about the MICE sector, Mathur said, “It’s heartening that corporates have
It’s heartening that corporates have opened up to the idea of 7 night cruises
opened up to the idea of 7 night cruises. Entertainment, Indian meals are all taken care of on the ship, besides the state-of-the-art conferencing facility available with us.” At this point, leisure generates more revenue for the company, and MICE sector generates volumes, but groups are generally price sensitive.
He further added that the government needs to focus more on this sector, as infrastructure for cruise ships is lacking. “Once this issue is addressed, I am sure a lot of cruise liners would like to call on Indian ports.”
Working closely with travel agents forms a key aspect of their operations in India. Since they largely work on the B2B model, a significant portion of their revenue comes from them. At regular intervals, educational sessions are organised with agents, besides regular sales interactions.