In an effort to attract tourists to Maharashtra in a big way, the Shiv Sena-led MVA government on Wednesday approved its own Caravan policy to promote leisure travel and tourism in the State.
In line with the existing Caravan tourism policy of the Government of India, the Uddhav Thackeray dispensation unveiled its own Caravan policy – under which the state-run Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) will allow private players to construct Caravan Parks, accommodations for tourists and operate camper vans in around the designated tourist destinations.
At a weekly Cabinet meeting presided over by chief minister Uddhav Thackeray here, the state Cabinet cleared the Caravan Tourism Policy which the state government intends to implement during the post-Covid-19 period in an elaborate way.
State Tourism Minister Aditya Thackeray, who is pushing the implementation of the policy, said: “Caravan Tourism will add to the experiences offered by the State government to the tourists”.
The caravan and caravan park professionals shall be trained in marketing, hygiene, and management of the new niche sector through the Directorate of Tourism.
It may be recalled that the MTDC had released a draft Caravan Tourism Policy in September last year and sought suggestions and objections from various stake-holders
Under the policy, the private players can set up Caravan parks by procuring the Caravans and creating other infrastructure for promoting tourism in the state. These parks will be allowed to be set up in the buffer zone of a forest, near a dam or foothills of a fort. The policy will facilitate provision of caravans and camper vans to provide all the facilities to tourists in areas where permanent construction is prohibited. At the caravan parks, recreational vehicles will be allowed to be parked. These vehicles will have all the facilities including water refill, battery charging and disposal of sewage will be made available.
The caravans with single, twin axles, tent trailers, folding or camper trailers would have a kitchen, bed facilities, toilet, a living area and other amenities to make the journey smooth.
Given it is known for its picturesque beaches, forts, mountain ranges, hill stations, forests, heritage sites, caves and dams, Maharashtra has huge potential to promote Caravan tourism.
The MTDC plans to promote caravan parks and caravans through Public-private partnership (PPP). While the MTDC will provide land, the state holders will create various amenities.
To be promoted and marketed under MTDC’s Mahabhraman scheme, the caravan parks will remain operational 24X7 during tourist seasons. They will be connected by fair-weather roads from main carriageways.
According to the policy, each park will come upon a minimum of 2.5-acre space and will have a maximum of 20 parking bays. Further, such centres will have to adopt a tourism-friendly policy which also benefits the local community and is eco-friendly.
“The private players and operators interested in participating in Caravan Tourism will have to register themselves online with Directorate of Tourism and at www.maharashtratourism.gov.in respectively,” a senior MTDC official said.