India on the Maritime Map
At a rate of growth of 9.4% per annum, India's economy is booming and has now swelled to a trillion dollars, making it only the 12th nation to reach this milestone. 
'Kerala has long been popular for boaties, who have moored in the backwaters.'
Jeni Bone
Statistics show that the luxury goods market in India is growing at 30-32% pa.
Today's affluent Indian consumer is going overboard in his urge to splurge.
Stats & Facts:
* In 2007, there were an estimated 120,000 Indians with assets over US$ 1 million.
* 13,000 new Indian US$ millionaires were added in the past year alone - a 15% p.a. increase over the previous year.
* With a population in excess of 12 million, Mumbai is said to have more millionaires per square mile than Manhattan.
For marine businesses, India is looking more like a potential boating hub every year. Mumbai is known as the 'Gateway to India' and its commercial and business epicentre. Mumbai has a natural harbour with miles of sheltered coastline with great places to sail to. The city houses the diamond, finance, IT and film industries - Bollywood is the world's largest film producing centre.
India, Mumbai particularly, has a strong boating heritage with the third oldest yacht club in the world, the Royal Bombay Yacht Club, set up in 1846.
Yet, the first marina development is only just underway - the Bolgatty Island marina in Cochin, Kerala. Awarded through a global bidding process undertaken by KITCO the project was won by Gulf Marinas, a leading marina manufacturer based in Sharjah whose Indian partners are Ocean Blue Marinas.
Kochi (known in Colonial times as Cochin) is situated on the south-west coast of the Indian peninsula in the scenic and prosperous state of Kerala.
Its strategic importance over the centuries gave shelter to Arabs, British, Chinese, Dutch, and Portuguese sailors, all of whom have left indelible marks on the region's development.
Kochi has emerged as the commercial and industrial force and is perhaps the second most important city on the west coast of India (after Mumbai/Bombay). Cochin boasts a world class port and international airport that link it to many major cities worldwide.
The entire 900km length of the Kerala coast is lined with sandy beaches, rocky promontories and coconut palms that definitely merit a visit in every tourist itinerary. Touring the beach sites of Kovalam can make any beach holiday a delightful one, as Kerala's beaches are renowned for the gentle surf and blue waters.
On 1 March, the chief minister lay the foundation stone for Bolgatty Island. The Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) Chairman, Cheriyan Philip, announced the marina, situated between Marine Drive and Bolgatty Island, will have facilities for 50 yachts, a Marina House with all modern facilities, a Marina Museum and recreation and convention centres.
A golf course would eventually be developed adjoin it.
The total cost is Rs 8 crore (Rupees 80 million or AUD$2 million). Around Rs 4 million is from central assistance and the remaining is from the state government and loans.
The first phase will be completed this year and the second phase within two years.
The Marina will occupy five acres of land owned by the KTDC near the Bolgatty Palace Hotel. Supporting facilities like petrol stations, a restaurant, health club and car parking are likely to be built on land reclaimed from the backwaters.
Sailors - local and international - are said to be ecstatic over the project.
"So far, for many years, India has missed the boat, so to speak," Howard Moon, an Australian yacht owner, was quoted as saying.
"Many yachts go to Sri Lanka because there is a small marina there. The Maldives has marinas. Malaysia, Thailand and every other country that I know has marinas. So, it is high time that India had a Marina."
Kochi has a buzzing shipyard, so in addition to bringing tourists to the region, the marina will provide job opportunities to hundreds of workmen in repairing boats and communication equipment.
With the city already playing host to the Volvo Ocean Race in 2008, the government is sure the country's first marina will attract significant global maritime attention.
At present the yachters mostly comprising of aged couples need to berth their vessels in the backwaters and reach the shore in inflatable boats. Seafarers from all over the world have visited the area and relied on the Bolgatty Palace Hotel for food, swimming and other needs.
It is estimated that yachters generally spend an average of two weeks in Kochi, sight seeing, relaxing and carrying out necessary maintenance.
www.incredibleindia.org
by Jeni Bone 
Click on thumbnails to enlarge and find more photos:
Paynesville, VIC
