New Delhi, Union Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu on Monday wrote to the Union Tourism Ministry and the Maharashtra government to develop the Maharashtra Coast as a tourist stop.
In a letter to Union Tourism Minister K J Alphons and Maharashta Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Mr Prabhu said his ministry has received a proposal from the Services Export Promotion Council and Indian Institute of Scuba Diving and Aquatic Sports Malwan, Sindhudurg, for a comprehensive plan to encourage marine tourism along the coast of Maharashtra.
The proposal includes 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.
The Commerce Minister said this proposal will complement the Tourism Ministry’s initiative for development of coastal circuit in Sindhudurg to be executed through Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation for which an amount of Rs 82.17 crore has already been sanctioned.
In February, 2018, the Union Cabinet had decided to give focused attention to 12 champion services sectors and mandated the identified nodal ministries and departments to formulate sectoral action plans under the fund of Rs 5000 crore.