ITDC cruises into seaports with duty free outlets

New Delhi: From airports, the India Tourism Development Corporation is shifting its retail gaze to seaports. Its retail arm, Ashok International Trade Division (AITD), has been steadily cruising into seaports across the country setting up duty-free outlets. 

 

For instance, on Tuesday morning, ITDC officiating CMD and Director Commercial & Marketing Piyush Tiwari was at Krishnapatnam port in Nellore district, inaugurating a new outlet along with Anil Yendluri, CEO of the port. 

 

“Next month we may open one at Tuticorin followed by Kandla Port later,” said Tiwari, outlining ITDC’s ambition to cover all the seaports in India. Krishnapatnam is the 11th Seaport where ITDC has set up a duty-free shop. 

 

“My target is that by 2018-19 we should cover all the major ports in the country with our duty-free outlets,” says Tiwari, hastening to add: “Of course it depends on the port authorities as well.” 

 

According to Tiwari, the seaport duty-free outlets are aligned with the Ministry of Tourism’s ambitious plans to create cruise tourism around India’s coastal towns. Shopping facilities are part of this plan.