With 2011-12 being coined as the Tourism Year, grand plans have been made by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) to lure more number of tourists. Kiran Kurundkar, Managing Director, MTDC said that the focus will be on promoting tourism in the state. “We will promote and publicise MTDC's destinations through events, expos and travel meets. Our destinations will have better accommodation, restaurants and other amenities including updated information and guidance boards at popular spots,” added Kurundkar.
Plans are to highlight tourist hubs which have to still gain patronage. “Vidarbha has good Ecotourism opportunities because of its national parks, flora and fauna. Tourists travel to Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, when Maharashtra has places like Tadoba National Park and Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary,” said Kurundkar.
The Corporation has been given a grant of Rs 40 crore for promoting Ecotourism in Maharashtra. “We will have a two-way approach towards projects listed under promotion of Ecotourism. MTDC resorts situated outside forest areas will be developed. Capacity-building additions are underway and the proposed facilities will come up within eight months. These resorts will serve as base camps for tourists. They can then visit forest areas nearby for camping, nature trails and jungle safaris guided by the forest department,” added Kurundkar. Nandurbar will also be included in the Ecotourism initiative.
Another activity on MTDC's agenda is completion of the Ajanta-Ellora development programme. “The first phase of this programme has already been completed. The second phase is underway and involves completion of visitors' centres at Ajanta and Ellora. They would be interpretation centres for tourists visiting the caves who will be taken to these buildings, which would have facilities like audio-visual films based on Ajanta and Ellora, print material, cafes and lounges. Once given the information about these caves and their history, tourists would be taken to the actual monuments. This is an effort aimed at cave conservation and we would like to commission these two centres in Quarter one of 2011,” mentioned Kurundkar.
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