Staff Reporter –
The national strategy for cruise tourism of the government of India directed the development of skill based institutes for cruise tourism. In this regard, India’s first Cruise Service Compact Skill Development Institute, TCMT Marine Services LLP (TMS), launched its fourth course on Bartending and Croupier at its campus after successfully running three courses on Housekeeping, Culinary, and Food and Beverage for cruise ship jobs.
Today, the course was launched by Mr. Irfan Ahmed, the H&FS awarded mixologist and bar consultant of National and International level, along with the ‘Dada Bartender’, Mr. Sanjoy Ghosh, the winner of Best Innovative in social media by National award for excellence, India also Panel Jury member of best bars in India and Mr. Tanmoy Roy, the winner of Bartending Championship, India who is also famous personality worldwide for alcohols and spirits. The three famous and popular celebrities in the world of Bartending also agreed to be the trainer at TMS LLP for the launched course along with international trainers.
TMS LLP launched its first batch on 10 July 2024 with three courses for Cruise Services: Housekeeping, Culinary, and Food and beverages. After successfully running the courses, Singapore Cruise Services company Universal Ship Management PET. Ltd. (6, New Industrial Road, 0704 New Century, Singapore— 536199) confirmed the placement of twenty students from the first batch of TMS. In September, they confirmed that they would visit the campus for physical recruitment. By the success of the first batch, TMS decided to launch its fourth course on Bartending and Croupier on 26th July 2024 with Pailan Group of Institutions through the Cocktail and Mocktail Making competition for Colleges & Schools.
At the event, Mr. Irfan Ahmed, the celebrity mixologist bar consultant, said that “the Bartender & Croupier course of TMS is a milestone in cruise services not only in India but also worldwide, and it will help to develop proper skills for Cruise Tourism”. Mr. Tanmoy Roy contributed by sharing that “TMS has taken a huge initiative in India to develop the skills for cruise services which will help the country and world to generate lakhs of jobs in the cruise industry.” Mr. Sanjoy Ghosh said that “it will be an honor to train the first batch of TMS LLP for Bartending & Croupier Course for Cruise as it will bridge the gap of an unskilled professional for the cruise industry”. The Principal of TMS LLP, Ms. Nutteera Khunchairag, shared that “the courses will be helpful to develop the ecosystem for Cruise tourism in India and worldwide.” On the occasion Ms. Moonmoon Saha, The Vice Chairperson of Pailan Group of Institutions enlightened that “Pailan Group of Institutions is serving the society and community since 22 years to pertaining skill-based education for the benefit and development of society not only in India but also for its neighboring countries and TMS is another feather into the cap of Pailan Group of Institutions which will help the cruise industry to get skill-based resources”.
In June 2023, the Government of India drafted its national strategy for cruise tourism in India and also for bilateral and multilateral agreements to facilitate and make cruise tourism cheaper and to develop its ecosystem in India and worldwide. Before that, an MoU was signed by India and Bangladesh to develop passenger and cruise services between the two countries. After the initiatives of the Indian Government on cruise tourism, tremendous opportunities came to light with high salaries and high standards of living for the young population of India, and it also opened the road for foreign students to take training in India and get recruited by the various Cruise services company in India and worldwide. Cruise Tourism is a nature-based tourism segment that enables a country to leverage its’ seas, rivers, and canals for overnight and same-day cruises across varied themes and multiple budgets. The cruise Tourism segment empowers a country through its natural water assets to enhance both its international & national integration. Cruise tourism ideally covers the following segments: Ocean cruises (International cruises), Coastal and Island smaller ships and luxury yacht cruises, including expedition style with diving activities (domestic & regional covering the neighboring coastal and island countries), National waterways cruises (interstate and cross border and day cruises across rivers, lakes, canals backwaters, yachts & reservoirs), Island & Coastal & River bank assets (lighthouses shipping museums, sea, and river waterfront & walkways).
India has significant capabilities in cruise tourism for the coastal & river sectors. This is due to 12 Major and 200 Minor Ports along the 7500 km long coastline across the west and east and a network of more than 20000 kilometers long navigable 110 waterways connecting around 400 rivers. India has multiple states, union territories, and 1300 islands, along the coastline or the banks of states and interstate rivers or national waterways. Coastal and River cruise tourism is key to generating direct employment for the people who work as cruise crew, jetty operators, local tourist guides, translators, local cultural artists, boat operators, boat builders, and boat recyclers, among others. Additionally, cruise tourism generates demand for tourism, hospitality, restaurants, local transportation, and goods and services for shopping, resulting in secondary employment. Tourist Cruise Ships also is a growing sector for the economy, with benefits coming from shipbuilding, recycling & repair under the ‘Make in India’ scheme. The Indian cruise industry is growing across deep sea, coastal, and river areas due to multiple government interventions. The Indian cruise market has the potential to increase multiple times, driven by rising demand from the young population and disposable incomes. The ports of Mumbai, Mormugao, Mangalore, Kochi, Chennai, Vishakhapatnam, Kolkatta, Porbandar, Diu, and Somnath are under various stages of international cruise operations & development as India is on route to many international cruise ships.
