ITB India Exhibition Navigates a Sea of Cruise Opportunities

The recent ITB India exhibition at ITB India exhibition’s BKC lit up the Jio Convention Centre with dynamic exchanges, strengthening ties between exhibitors and buyers from September 2–4, 2025. The event saw the participation of over 200 exhibitors from prominent destinations, including Bali, Indonesia, Thailand, Nepal, and more, along with Indian and international tourism boards, and thousands of industry connoisseurs over the three days. The event saw continuous knowledge‑sharing interactions, presentations, and discussions held on two knowledge pavilions, boosting engagement levels.

Focus Cruise

One of the highlights of ITB Mumbai 2025 was the revitalisation of the Indian Cruise Tourism Landscape. The event witnessed the official launch of the India Cruise Forum, a B2B initiative co‑conceived by STIC Travel Group and DDP Group to connect global cruise players with Indian travel professionals. Running alongside the trade show, the ITB India Conference 2025 hosted over 40 sessions across Knowledge Theatre, MICE & Corporate, Travel Tech, and Experiential Travel, with cruises emerging as one of the most vibrant themes on 3 September.

Focusing on cruise, the opening session Setting Sail for Growth: The Indian Cruise Outlook, presented by Isha Goyal, CEO, STIC Group, and Nikhil Jeet, Director, Buzz Travel Marketing, revealed the untapped potential of cruise packages by broadening the socio‑economic and demographic reach of the target audience, optimising AI and technology in this segment, and upgrading knowledge‑sharing strategies with B2B & B2C players.

Evolution of Cruise Tourism

Cruise tourism has long been regarded as a boutique segment, yet it has been neglected and has evolved magnanimously over the last decade and a half, undergoing a major manoeuvre during COVID‑19. The exponential boom of technology has created opportunities for everyone to elevate their travel experiences. During the presentation, Nikhil Jeet highlighted interesting parameters, such as exploring the middle‑class family segment of 400–600 million, which will be driving growth massively, as the average age of a traveller in the Asia‑Pacific region is 39, whereas in India it is 29. The approximate figure of tech‑savvy and internet‑ready travellers stands at 800 million, who are willing to spend on luxury and experiential travel. The final point focuses on the disposable income of Tier‑II and Tier‑III cities.

The tourism industry is currently around 35 to 40 million outbound trips, while global cruising counts 32 million travellers. Looking ahead, Isha Goyal noted, “That number is expected to grow by 20 per cent in the next four years. What is interesting is that 20 per cent growth does not factor in the 50 million outbound trips Indians are making. Also noteworthy is that almost one‑third of that number comes from multi‑generational cruising, meaning it is not just retired uncles and aunties who are going on cruises.”

Globally, there has been a 27 per cent increase in demand for cruise travel in the last couple of years, and 40 per cent of travellers booked their second cruise experience within six months.

Strategically Exploring the Uncharted Territory of Cruise Tourism

With finely tuned B2B and B2C strategies complemented by appealing experiences such as the introduction of regional languages, streamlined processes, and attention to cultural and dietary preferences, the Indian cruise tourism sector is set to become a key pillar. While curating cruise packages remains paramount, making them profitable is equally important.

Cruise packages marketed through a robust ecosystem can foster long‑term sustainability. Effective knowledge‑sharing platforms to raise awareness about the packages, products, and services, and identifying the right markets and audiences are essential to enable travel agents, DMCs, representative companies, and prominent B2B players to contribute significantly to selling cruise packages. Rather than competing at a micro level, fostering cooperation at a macro level can trigger the long‑awaited revolution in cruise tourism. Nikhil Jeet also remarked that cruises should be sold with the same confidence as an LIC agent, positioning them as one of the most desired aspects of travel.

An array of themes, including the role of technology, balancing profit with purpose, and compliance essentials with hassle‑free insurances, were explored in relation to the evolving landscape of the tourism and travel industry, with a pivotal focus on curated luxury travel.

Amidst the spotlight on cruise tourism, the session Small Ships, Grand Journeys: India’s New Wave of Luxury Expedition Travel featured Isha Goyal, Romil Pant (Thomas Cook India Limited), Nishith Saxena (Cruise Professionals LLP), and Kiran Bhandari (Polarverse). The discussion emphasised the growing importance of boutique ships and yacht expeditions in shaping premium travel experiences and redefining luxury at sea. Speakers also underscored the pivotal role of Indian travel agents and cruise advisers in bridging knowledge gaps, creating awareness, and curating purpose‑driven, high‑value cruise experiences for discerning travellers.

The session Niche to Norm: Unlocking the Regional Cruise Revolution featured Jurgen Bailom (Cordelia Cruises), Jasmeet Singh (MakeMyTrip), Naresh Rawal (StarDream Cruises), and Nikhil Jeet, who examined the forces driving cruise expansion. Discussions ranged from the growing role of MICE tourism and infrastructure development to innovative itineraries that showcase India’s cultural richness. Panelists also stressed the importance of responsible sales practices, urging agents to move away from discounting and underselling cruise products.

Another pivotal discussion, Responsible Tourism in India, moderated by Ajay Prakash (TAFI), brought together Dev Karvat (Asego), Suma Venkatesh (IHCL), and Nalini Gupta (Lotus Destinations). The panel explored how profitability and purpose can coexist, emphasising sustainability, community engagement, and the need for long‑term industry resilience as central to shaping India’s tourism future.