The Cochin Port Authority’s (CPA) plan to tap into the tourism potential of Willingdon Island has got a fillip with it signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on a project worth ₹300 crore. The port signed the MoU with Kochi-based Greenix Experiences Pvt. Ltd. at the recently concluded India Maritime Week in Mumbai.
The proposed project aims to transform Willingdon Island into a major tourist destination with cruise and allied tourism facilities. It is part of the CPA’s mission to develop a mega cruise terminal and related infrastructure, realising the port’s potential as a preferred cruise ship destination.
The latest MoU pertains to the development of a 20-acre plot adjacent to the existing cruise terminal at the Ernakulam Wharf. The proposed project aims to set up hotels, shopping centres, and recreational facilities targeting cruise passengers and crew members, according to CPA sources.
“Cruise ships arrive with thousands of passengers and a large number of crew members, who often do not have the time to travel to distant locations from the port. If we can provide facilities for experiential tourism within the terminal premises, it would be a major advantage. The current project has been designed in line with the interests of stakeholders in the sector,” they said.
Though the MoU has been signed with a private player, it is non-binding, and the mode of implementation will be decided once the detailed project report (DPR) is finalised. The DPR is expected to be ready within three months, after which the CPA will initiate the tender process. The project cost will be shared by the government and the private investors who secure the bid.
Published – November 03, 2025 12:46 am IST
