Valsa Nair Singh, Principal Secretary, Tourism & Culture, Government
of Maharashtra, says the state government intends to reposition and
promote Mumbai as a tourist destination. “We have recognised niche areas
in tourism in which we want to promote Mumbai. We want to make the city
the event capital in Maharashtra. Asia biggest convention centre is
coming in Mumbai next year followed by two more convention centres.
We are also working towards creating adventure tourism, medical tourism and Bollywood tourism here,” Singh says. She was speaking at a round-table organised by the Indian Merchant Chamber Travel, Tourism & Hospitality Committee in Mumbai, where she was the Chief Guest.
We are also working towards creating adventure tourism, medical tourism and Bollywood tourism here,” Singh says. She was speaking at a round-table organised by the Indian Merchant Chamber Travel, Tourism & Hospitality Committee in Mumbai, where she was the Chief Guest.
The event was attended by a few tour operators as well as the hospitality trade to discuss and deliberate on policy framework and to promote tourism in Mumbai and Maharashtra. Paraag Jaiin Nainuttia, IAS, MD, MTDC, shared details of the recent initiatives MTDC has taken like the helicopter Mumbai Darshan, and
facilitating commercialisation of yacht facilities on Mumbai’s coast through a possible tie-up with private companies. According to Singh, 2.5 lakh Mumbai tourists enter Mumbai for medical tourism.
The government is therefore working on e-medical visa and medical reimbursement, and tying up with insurance companies overseas to facilitate reimbursement of medical expenses incurred by tourists. She added that the new state tourism policy will be out in the public domain soon. It focuses on three aspects: product development, skilling, and investment and promotion.
