Maharashtra govt to promote monsoon tourism in Konkan, develop state as cinema hub

Minister Aaditya Thackeray said the focus was on how to maximise the tourism sector’s contribution to the state’s GDP

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government was working to promote monsoon tourism in the Konkan region and to develop the state as a cinema hub with a “single vault” of legendary films and scripts, state Tourism Minister Aaditya Thackeray has said.

During a select media interaction on Saturday ahead of the World Tourism Day on September 27, Thackeray said the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government was working to “create excitement” about the state as a tourist destination.

The government can only be an enabler, he said, while stressing on more private participation in the tourism sector.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the involvement and interest of the private sector was encouraging, he said.

He noted that travel restrictions will last till COVID-19 exists. “But, the focus is on what we can do now. Tourists who are fully vaccinated, as per central government norms, are welcome to the state. We are looking at domestic, international, inter-state and intra-state tourists,” he said.

The minister said his department’s focus was on how to maximise the tourism sector’s contribution to the state’s GDP and boost localised employment.