TBM Staff - Mumbai
Mumbai is poised to establish a dedicated ‘tourism zone’ adjacent to the forthcoming greenfield international airport in Navi Mumbai. Spanning 1,000 acres, this zone will be located near key growth centers like Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, and Raigad.
It aims to offer a blend of amenities including restaurants, amusement parks, hotels, and training institutes to empower youth and foster skilled manpower. The proposed zone aligns with the draft tourism policy for Maharashtra, emphasising experimental tourism activities such as adventure, rural, wellness, and community tourism, alongside single-window clearance for the hospitality sector.
The draft policy underscores the allocation of land for the tourism zone, earmarking 1,000 acres near the Navi Mumbai international airport. This location, integral to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region’s growth, promises a tourism hub with diverse offerings. It envisages hotels, entertainment facilities, and tourism-related ventures, along with a focus on skill development through a hotel management and training institute. Stakeholder consultations have concluded, with the draft policy set for submission to the state cabinet for approval.
Furthermore, the policy advocates for a dedicated ‘tourism police’ unit to safeguard tourist areas, staffed by ex-servicemen specially trained in assisting visitors. Maharashtra’s tourism landscape witnessed significant footfall, with 43.57 million domestic tourists and 190,000 foreign visitors in 2021, according to the India Tourism Statistics-2022 report. Ranked second in foreign tourist visits and fifth in domestic visits in 2021, Maharashtra’s tourism sector is poised for growth with strategic initiatives outlined in the draft policy.
