Tourists travelling on MV Empress, a luxury cruise liner, were given a traditional welcome during their arrival at the newly-built Cruise Terminal in Cochin Port. Nearly 300 tourists out of 1200 de-boarded in Kochi. The Kerala Tourism Department accorded a warm welcome to the guests. Women in traditional off-white Saris greet the tourists while artists performed the traditional martial dance Velakali holding swords and shields.