Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Timor Leste Collaborate with India to Drive Sustainable Cruise Growth and Reinvent Regional Coastal Tourism Across the Indo-Pacific

Published on July 21, 2025

Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Timor Leste have joined hands with India in a transformative effort to unlock the vast potential of cruise tourism and enhance maritime connectivity across the Indo-Pacific region. This collaboration, taking shape at the Second ASEAN Cruise Dialogue in Tamil Nadu, reflects a shared commitment to developing sustainable, inclusive, and culturally rich cruise experiences. By addressing key challenges such as infrastructure gaps, regulatory alignment, and regional integration, the participating nations aim to establish a seamless cruise ecosystem that supports economic growth, deepens people-to-people ties, and positions the ASEAN–India partnership at the forefront of global maritime tourism.

India Hosts Landmark ASEAN Cruise Dialogue to Bolster Regional Maritime Tourism and Connectivity

India is stepping up its efforts to become a pivotal force in regional cruise tourism by hosting a major multilateral event in Tamil Nadu that brings together representatives from all ASEAN member states, including Timor Leste. The high-level gathering, held under the banner of the Second ASEAN Cruise Dialogue, is focused on harnessing the potential of cruise shipping and deepening maritime partnerships across the Indo-Pacific region.

The event features participation from key officials and stakeholders from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Timor Leste. This initiative reflects India’s growing commitment to developing collaborative frameworks with ASEAN nations that promote inclusive, sustainable, and high-value maritime tourism.

Advancing Maritime Collaboration

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, highlighted the growing relevance of maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, especially in the wake of rising interest in cruise tourism. Speaking at the forum, he reiterated India’s vision to transform itself into a regional cruise hub through targeted policy support, infrastructure upgrades, and increased multilateral engagement.

He emphasized that strengthening maritime ties among ASEAN and India can open new channels of economic opportunity, cultural exchange, and regional integration. The dialogue presents a timely opportunity to chart out common goals, share best practices, and address regulatory and connectivity challenges that affect cruise operations across the region.

Spotlight on Heritage and Sustainable Tourism

In line with the conference’s theme, delegates are being treated to a curated visit to Mamallapuram, a UNESCO World Heritage Site near Chennai. Famous for its ancient shore temples, intricately carved stone monuments, and coastal charm, Mamallapuram serves as a symbolic representation of India’s cultural richness and potential for heritage-based cruise tourism.

This site visit aims to highlight how India can integrate its historic and coastal treasures into cruise itineraries, creating experiences that blend cultural exploration with maritime leisure. Officials see this approach as a key strategy in promoting responsible tourism that values both ecological preservation and local communities.

A Platform for Strategic Regional Integration

The ASEAN–India Cruise Dialogue is envisioned as more than just a one-off gathering. According to the Indian government, it will become a recurring multilateral forum designed to deepen long-term cooperation in the cruise tourism space. The goal is to lay the foundation for policy alignment, route synchronization, and infrastructure development that caters to both international and regional cruise lines.

As part of the current session, discussions are being held around closing connectivity gaps between ports, easing regulatory bottlenecks, and ensuring that smaller cruise destinations benefit from the broader development push. By focusing on inclusive and sustainable growth, the dialogue seeks to make cruise tourism a viable economic driver for coastal communities across ASEAN and India.

Industry Leaders Join Hands for Growth

Besides government representatives, the event also includes private sector stakeholders, cruise line executives, tourism developers, and port authorities from the ASEAN region. Their presence is crucial for fostering public-private partnerships that can drive investment, innovation, and service quality improvements in the cruise sector.

Stakeholders are also exploring ways to develop interoperable systems and aligned standards that can streamline cruise operations, reduce costs, and improve passenger experiences. By bringing industry leaders into the conversation, the forum aims to bridge the gap between policy vision and operational execution.

Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Timor Leste have united with India to boost cruise tourism and strengthen Indo-Pacific maritime connectivity through sustainable, collaborative efforts. This alliance aims to bridge regulatory gaps, enhance infrastructure, and promote cultural coastal tourism across the region.

Towards a Shared Indo-Pacific Maritime Future

This edition of the ASEAN Cruise Dialogue represents a strategic milestone in India’s broader Indo-Pacific maritime vision. By leveraging its geographic advantage, cultural depth, and growing infrastructure capabilities, India is positioning itself as a cruise tourism gateway between South Asia and Southeast Asia.

Through enhanced ASEAN–India cooperation, the region can unlock new cruise circuits, improve cross-border coordination, and expand the scope of people-to-people connectivity. The Tamil Nadu event sets the stage for continued collaboration, greater mutual understanding, and shared prosperity across one of the world’s most dynamic maritime regions.