Akshay Kumar & Steena Joy – Mumbai
Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) will soon be adopting the Public Private Partnership (PPP) route to enhance the tourism infrastructure in the state. MTDC has already floated an expression of interest (EOI) to create facilities in 80 tourist spots (existing as well as new) which the state government plans to develop.
Speaking exclusively to Express TravelWorld, Paraag Jaiin Nainutiia, managing director, MTDC said, “Our primary motto is to provide the tourists a seamless travel experience. For this we will partner with the private sector to develop the infrastructure and enhance the experience for the travellers. In the next two months we will be creating a new website where we will also promote the private investors.”
The new MD also plans to develop the monuments and the already existing products by PPP mode. For example, the concept of Nilambari Bus. The sightseeing bus tour will soon include a food facility and karaoke on the lower deck to make use of this space. There will also be trained guides on the bus with proficiency in foreign languages.
Nainuttia added, “We as MTDC will only invest in those arenas where there are no private players like for example we are looking at developing infrastructure at Ajanta and Ellora for helicopter landings. We will also like to upgrade the facilities and infrastructure in Tadoba and Pench.”
MTDC is also looking to start niche tourism products like Mining tourism and Tribal tourism.
Nainuttia added, “We have a meeting with the western coal field authorities to explore the introduction of Mining tourism in places like Vidarbha, Chandrapur and Yavatmal. Also we are looking to introduce Tribal tourism in Gadchiroli, Gondia, Bhandardara, Yavatmal, Chikhaldara, Thane and Nashik.”