Click to play videoThe Maharashtra government is now banking on the state's biggest export - Bollywood- to promote tourism. Yogita Limaye of CNN-IBN has more.
350 historic forts... beautiful beaches... the scenic western ghats...a wildlife reserve teeming with tigers....5th century Buddhist caves .. and the best mangoes & oranges in the country... Maharashtra has all it takes to be the perfect all-season tourist destination...yet the state gets only six per cent of the total domestic tourists...
And while the state govt may want to take solace from statistics that show 2 million of the 5.25 million foreign tourists coming to India visit Maharashtra, the truth is they rarely step out of here in Mumbai... making it a transit destination to states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala...
Ashwini Kakkar, Executive VC, Mercury Travels
"Look at other states.... they have built strong campaigns.. Maharashtra government has completely failed...."
The govt is now hoping Bollywood's glamour quotient will help build Brand Maharashtra and bring in the tourists. It is scripting Bollywood tourism, over shots of film sets as part of the 'Visit Golden Maharashtra campaign'
Avinash Dhakne, Managing Director, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC)
"People from Philippines, Malaysia, etc.. they're very interested in Hindi movies and they want to see these actors, so we are trying to set something up..."
But the tourism industry insists basics infrastructure have to be put in place first.
Ashwini Kakkar, Executive VC, Mercury Travels
"First communication, connectivity and networking need to be worked on...."
With at least a first step being taken, let's hope the lure of a glimpse of the stars and the action at the Bollywood dream factory gives Maharashtra tourism the boost it needs.
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