Mumbai to turn into a world-class tourist destination

Maharashtra Government is planning to come up with a comprehensive tourism development plan to lure domestic and international tourists to the country’s financial capital. From Wankhede Stadium and Kala Ghoda festival to a Bollywood theme park and many beaches, the city maximum has it all.
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Taking cues from Boston, New York and Chicago, the state government is finalising the first-ever tourism development plan, which focuses on places that can be developed into tourist attractions. The estimated cost of the plan will likely be around INR 676 crore.
As per the project, an R-urban village can be developed in the city to offer the experience of rural Maharashtra in urban Gorai. Further, a Mumbai Haat, mangroves and a flamingo museum at Sewri can also be set up.

To offer customised packages to tourists based on their preference, the state government plans to create five circuits that will be clubbed with sites of similar themes. The packages will be categorised as museums and art galleries, religious sites, waterfronts and gardens, popular markets, and old iconic residential areas.

VK Gautam, principal secretary and managing director, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) said, “We have asked the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to send the plan to the state, so it can be cleared and implemented.”

As for the existing tourist sites, efforts will be made to develop better infrastructure, set up food stalls, toilets, more ATMs, 24x7 tourist helpline, websites, smartphone applications and tourist information centres. Cultural and natural heritage sites, such as Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Aarey Milk Colony, Kanheri caves and Elephanta Caves will also be covered in these packages.