On Friday, Maharashtra Tourism Minister Aaditya Thackeray said the state government would establish an airport in Palghar, supposing that the Mumbai airport is being utilised to its full potential. In contrast, the Navi Mumbai airport, which will be working in the future, might be inadequate to provide requirements.
Thackeray continued while a settlement on the Konkan Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) is assumed to be taken by January, steps are being taken to establish a Bollywood and cricket museum in Mumbai.
He announced at a tourism conference, organised by Loksatta, the Marathi daily of The Indian Express group, to address the development possibilities of the tourism division in the state. Puneet Chhatwal, Chairman-CII National Committee On Tourism & Hospitality and MD & CEO, Indian Hotels Company Ltd, was a special guest.
Thackeray, who inaugurated the conference, also addressed different projects being performed by the government to grow tourism in the state. “Compared to the facilities available in Mumbai, Palghar has less facilities and more attention is being given there. In future, there will be a lot of strain on the Mumbai and the Navi Mumbai airports and another airport is needed. Considering the period of few years required to develop a new airport, planning has already started for the construction of an airport at Palghar,” he said.
He remarked that the government is contemplating installing a cricket museum at the Wankhede stadium. The research is on to obtain a suitable location for fixing up a Bollywood museum. “Even though everything was stalled due to COVID-19 restrictions, a number of policy decisions were taken and tourism policy was formulated in consultation with all the stakeholders on how to develop the tourism industry (in the state) in the next few years. It has been decided recently to keep the CRZ area in Mumbai up to 50 meters and a decision is expected to be taken by January regarding Konkan CRZ,” Thackeray said.
Chhatwal said the tourism sector, which had zero revenue during the COVID-19 period, is now flourishing. “Other countries have not yet opened their doors to tourism. This is currently benefiting the tourism sector in India. Therefore, at present, there is 100 per cent booking in hotels all over the country. It is said to be a kind of ‘revenge’ tourism. But, people are coming out for their happiness,” he said while appreciating Thackeray for giving industry status to the hospitality sector and decreasing the number of permissions needed for it.
