Maharashtra is preparing a major tourism infrastructure expansion plan under which 100 tourism sub-circuits will be developed across the state’s five administrative divisions over the next five years. The initiative, which involves a proposed investment of Rs 2,500 crore, is aimed at strengthening tourism infrastructure, generating employment opportunities, and significantly boosting tourist arrivals by 2047.
Under the proposed plan, the state government intends to allocate Rs 25 crore for each tourism sub-circuit. The project will focus on developing specialised tourism themes, including fort tourism, culinary tourism, pilgrimage destinations, and other location-specific attractions to create a more diversified tourism ecosystem.
“These circuits will be promoted as tourist destinations by developing them in a tourist-friendly manner over the next five years. Infrastructure development, along with the creation of basic amenities, will be the focus. We have planned to spend Rs 25 crore on each of these circuits,” said Sanjay Khandare.
At present, Maharashtra has five key tourism circuits covering Pune, Nagpur, Coastal Mumbai, Nashik and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Through the new initiative, the government plans to expand tourism development at a more localised level by identifying emerging destinations and improving visitor infrastructure across the state.
Officials said the strategy is designed to increase both domestic and international tourist movement while supporting the creation of an integrated tourism economy. As part of the exercise, the tourism department is also conducting studies to assess future requirements related to hotels, transportation facilities, tour operators and tourism-related infrastructure.
In a parallel initiative, the state government is developing a dedicated digital tourism portal that will integrate nearly 100,000 tourism-related units operating across Maharashtra. The platform is expected to function as a comprehensive travel interface providing information on tourist destinations, transport connectivity, hotels, homestays, tour operators and other tourism services.
Officials stated that nearly 50,000 tourism units are expected to be onboarded onto the portal by the end of the year, making travel planning and access to tourism services more seamless for visitors across the state.
Source: Hindustan Times
