Kerrebroeck highlights the growing popularity of the Brahmaputra and Kerala Backwaters itineraries, driven by slow travel, community-led experiences and deeper destination engagement.
Priyanka Saxena Ray
How do you see India’s river cruise segment evolving, especially among international travellers looking for experiential holidays?
What makes India stand out is how much variety you can experience within a single journey. For example, on our Brahmaputra expedition, one day guests are exploring Assamese villages and temples, the next you are driving through national parks spotting wildlife and cruising around the river’s sand banks. That mix of culture, nature, history, and local life has made India our most popular destination for the Pandaw Members Club this past season, particularly among travellers looking for something more personal than a traditional tour.
Which routes are currently seeing the strongest interest, and what makes them stand out for today’s discerning traveller?
At the moment, the Kerala Backwaters is proving to be our strongest performer. We launched the route at the end of 2025 aboard a small 10-cabin ship and demand quickly led to the construction of a second vessel, the RV Kerala Pandaw, arriving in early 2027. The popularity of the itinerary reflects the industry’s wider shift towards slow travel. Guests are increasingly looking for journeys that allow them to spend more time connecting with the destination rather than constantly moving between stops. Kerala lends itself naturally to that style of travel, combining Fort Kochi’s colonial history and cultural influences with quieter moments.
How important is community-led and destination-sensitive tourism in shaping the brand’s India product?
Community-led tourism has always been central to how Pandaw designs its itineraries because we believe a travel experience is shaped just as much by the people as the destinations themselves. Many of our crew members come from the regions we sail through, which naturally brings more local knowledge and storytelling onboard. For example, during the development of the Kerala itinerary our Purser Arun Srinivas, who is originally from Kerala, played an important role in identifying destination-specific experiences for guests to experience, such as Kathakali performances.
What support or infrastructure improvements would help river cruising achieve its full potential, and what are Pandaw’s expansion plans for the India market in the coming years?
From Pandaw’s perspective, we’re already seeing strong demand for India and are continuing to expand our presence there. In addition to adding a second ship to our Kerala Backwaters expedition in early 2027, we’re also exploring shorter three-night and four-night itineraries across some of our most popular routes. These sailings are designed to appeal to travellers looking for easier getaway-style experiences while still offering the same immersive connection to local culture and communities that defines river cruising in India.
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