Maharashtra Govt Introduced New Policies To Boost Tourism

With the tourism sector expected to pick up after COVID-19, the govt of Maharashtra has announced sector-friendly policies to enable entrepreneurs to celebrate the state with the rest of the world, Tourism and Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray said on Wednesday.

“The hospitality, tourism and travel sector is one which will begin very well right after COVID-19, as people after working from home would want to step out,” Thackeray said while speaking at a webinar organized by OYO- ”OYO Samvaad”.

He added that in the lockdown, the government”s focus has been to introduce sector-friendly policies to enable entrepreneurs and boost tourism.

The minister said the government is going to open up the Wankhede Stadium for tourists in January in line with the international cricket stadiums just like the Lords, where cricket fans can visit and see where the great cricket legends like Sachin Tendulkar have played matches.

“Besides the Wankhede Stadium, we also are going to open up the Bombay Municipal Corporation (BMC) and therefore the Bombay high court, which features a rich history, for the tourists,” he said in the webinar.

Maharashtra is a land of enormous opportunity for the travel and hospitality sector in terms of generating opportunities for employment and bringing revenue to the state, Thackeray said. the govt will continue to introduce multi-pronged tourism policies to bring a world-class experience to the tourists visiting the state, he added.

Maharashtra Principal Secretary (Tourism and Culture) Valsa Nair Singh, who was present on the occasion, said the government has taken some major decisions recently to spice up tourism in the state and has plans to announce some new proposals in the near future.

“While introducing health, safety, and hygiene protocols in the state”s hospitality sector, we took in the suggestions and proposals by the hospitality chain OYO Hotels and homes. we would wish to collaborate and close work with OYO to motivate entrepreneurs to open more hotels, attracting tourists and travelers searching for a reasonable stay,” she added.

Highlighting the company’s plans to strengthen its footprint in the state, OYO Hotels and Homes founder and Group CEO Ritesh Agarwal said Maharashtra is a vital market for the company.

“We have generated over 5,000 employment opportunities in the state and are excited to tap into the potential of the tourism sector in the state. We, along with many of our hotel partners, look forward to delivering a safe, secure, and comfortable experience to the travelers,” Agarwal added.

Currently, OYO operates in over 800 cities in 80 countries, including the US, Europe, the UK, Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Japan.

Also Read: CSMIA Duty Free awarded with the Retailer Campaign of the Year at the Frontier Awards