One of the sectors that has been savagely impacted most by Covid-19 is the tourism sector. However, during the lockdown period, Maharashtra ensured that it introduced policies and packages which would help attract more investments and domestic tourists.

Mr. Dhananjay Sawalkar, Director, Directorate of Tourism said that during the pandemic, the Directorate of Tourism played dual roles. In the first lockdown, the Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of External Affairs (at the centre) had assigned us the responsibility to help foreign tourists stuck in the state during the lockdown. Tourists were stuck in many destinations of Maharashtra like Tadoba (Nagpur), Aurangabad etc. So, we were assigned the task to help these tourists on board the flight when their respective countries provided flights to take their citizens back. So, we helped 243 foreign tourists as lockdown restrictions were in place and travelling across the state was difficult.

There was no — or very minimal — work taking place in the tourism sector during the first wave of Covid-19. So, we decided to focus on policy-level changes for the industry. The first thing was implementing a 20-year-old policy — we gave tourism the desired industry status — making Maharashtra the first state in India to do so. After that, we ensured that agro-tourism, caravan tourism, beach shacks, and ease of doing policies got an impetus. These policies are very important for the tourism of Maharashtra. There is a change in tourist behaviour today, and travellers are avoiding crowded places.

Keeping this in mind, we introduced agro-tourism and caravan tourism policies. For the agro-tourism policy, we have received a very good response. More than 400 farmers have registered with us and have set-up their centres in the state. So, the state is training them on hospitality, marketing and so on. Caravan tourism is, however, taking time to pick up. This is mainly because there is a vehicle tax for caravans which is slightly on the higher side. The decision is taken on this. We are waiting for GR to be issued. Last year, under the beach shack policy, the Directorate recognised eight beaches where the policy could be implemented. So, the plan is ready. After Diwali, beach shacks and beach facility centres will commence.

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.

"Rains are not meant to be a situation where everything is always shut. Konkan's beautiful landscape turns greener and the red earth is a natural wonder which people should be encouraged to explore. Let people come to just walk around, go for trekking. The agri tourism, caravans and five-star hotels will help promote monsoon tourism," he said.

The Chipi airport in Sindhudurg (located in Konkan region), which will be inaugurated next month, will also help boost tourism in the area, he said, adding that the beach shack policy was awaiting environment clearance.

The minister said each district in the state has tourism potential and should be promoted as locals can transform themselves as entrepreneurs.

He said the government was in touch with key producers from the Hindi and Marathi cinema for creating a hub for tourists and developing a "single vault" for storing legendary scripts, films and related photographs.

"The government is working on development of film cities. Netflix (OTT platform) has set up its production and post-production facility in Mumbai," he said.

The minister stressed on the need for sustainable inclusive growth in the tourism sector.

"The need of the hour is to have the right policies by working with all sectors. We hope to create excitement about Maharashtra,'" he said and expressed confidence that the tourism sector will pick up post-COVID-19.

The importance of tourism sector in the state's economy is beyond statistics. "The statistics will be recast post-COVID-19," he added.