The recently launched Tourism Pavilion by Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) at Infosys, Hinjewadi, Phase II, Pune has been proved as a profitable venture with a daily footfall of 400 people at the kiosk. The bookings are done in full swing with the project cost of Rs 30 lakh being recovered before the inauguration. MTDC estimates to recover the complete operational costs within two months.
The Tourism Pavilion spread across 1,250 sq ft, at Infosys campus in Pune, was inaugurated on May 29, 2016.
The pavilion is a one-stop shop for the Infosys employees who get an idea about the destinations in Maharashtra, information on travel ideas extending from weekend trips to long hauls and exploring various heritage, beach, pilgrimage, fort, agro tourism, and adventure tours of Maharashtra. The employees are provided with travel solutions like travel bookings, travel kits, bookings for amusement parks, hot air balloon rides, visa facilities, ticket bookings. The kiosk also helps to book national and international tours for employees.
Valsa Nair Singh, principal secretary, Cultural and Tourism Affairs, Government of Maharashtra, commented, “We intend to also introduce special packages for people in Pune to experience the Mumbai Ganeshotsav festival with customised packages. The response is tremendous and we are taking every right step to build it further.”
Satish Soni, director of tourism, Government of Maharashtra and joint managing director, MTDC, said, “This initiative has boosted the tourism in Maharashtra. Within seven working days of the launch, we have managed to draw bookings of two lakhs at MTDC resorts. The Malpani Wet & Joy and other hotel chains have approached us for getting association as a pavilion stakeholder.”
“After observing the response from next three months, we plan to open such more tourism pavilions in next financial year. We have also targeted places like Bandra-Kurla Complex, Seepz in Mumbai and Millenium Business Park in Vashi; cities like Indore or Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh; Ahmedabad or Surat in Gujarat and Bangalore in Karnataka in our next development phase.”
The tourism pavilion is also available online on www.tourismpavilion.com, which can be also accessed by other IT Parks in Hinjewadi. MTDC aims to target this pavilion at other IT Parks of Pune and reach about four lakh employees by providing kiosk in other companies with help of Hinjewadi Industrial Association.
