Maharashtra coast to be developed as tourism hotspot, says Suresh Prabhu

Union Minister for Commerce, Industry and Civil Aviation, Suresh Prabhu, has requested the Minister of State (independent charge) for tourism, KJ Alphons, and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for developing Maharashtra coast as a tourist hotspot.

He said the marine leisure sector is the fastest-growing segment of the travel industry. Growth of the cruise ship industry, seaside destination resorts, marine parks, scuba diving and aquariums will attract more tourists, both domestic and International, and will also help in generating employment for the local population and open new doors for revenue generation.

The commerce minister said the ministry has received a proposal from the Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC) and the Indian Institute of Scuba Diving and Aquatic Sports (IISDA) Malwan, Sindhudurg, for a comprehensive plan to encourage marine tourism along the Maharashtra coast. It also includes the strengthening of IISDA as an accredited institute for innovation and skill development in the aquatic tourism sector.

The proposal includes the development of scuba diving and domestic cruise tourism destinations at Angria Bank, underwater tourism of global standards, submarine tourism in Sindhudurg, setting up India’s largest aquarium in Sindhudurg to create awareness about marine biodiversity and strengthening IISDA as an accredited Institute for innovation and skill development in the aquatic tourism sector.