MTDC to make it to ` 100 cr club?

With a string of activities already planned for this year, the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation ( MTDC) will start this year with an expected budget of 100 crore from the Centre.

MTDC’s Managing Director, Jagdish Patil revealed that the state tourism board has requested for an increase in funds - from ` `

70- 80 crore to 100 crore from the Centre this year. This, he said, will be the biggest budget a state has asked for tourism.

Speaking on the sidelines of a press conference to announce the second Diwali celebrations in New York’s Times Square, Chhagan Bhujbal, Minister of Tourism, Government of Maharashtra, said, “After the success of last year’s Diwali event, we saw a rise of at least 30% in foreign tourist arrivals in Maharashtra.” The total budget for this year’s Times Square Diwali event is around `

3 crore.

Speaking about other activities planned, Patil said that after Wakayama Prefecture of Japan and Quebec, MTDC is looking to sign similar partnerships with London and Adelaide.

We will be promoting places like Malshej Ghat and resorts along the coastline

Jagdish Patil Managing Director

MTDC After the success of last year’s Diwali event, we saw a rise of at least 30% in foreign tourist arrivals in Maharashtra

Chhagan Bhujbal Minister of Tourism Government of

Maharashtra

Next in line, however, is the promotion of monsoon tourism in Maharashtra. “We will be promoting places like Malshej Ghat and resorts along the coastline. We are in talks with the Mumbai Port Trust for seaplanes and we will get permission to start operations after the monsoons,” the minister said.

He added, “We will soon be launching railways pack- ages for domestic tourists, especially pilgrims.”

Focus on four main areas

Patil informed, “Heritage, wildlife, beaches and adventure: these are the four aspects earmarked for immediate promotion. The Buddhist circuit in Maharashtra, which has 25 important Buddhist sites, is on priority. The Deccan Odyssey meanwhile will see a lot of activity with 10 new itineraries.