MAHARASHTRA UNLIMITED!!
Plan for development of Caravan Tourism in Maharashtra
Preface
The geography of Maharashtra shows evidence of a divine hand. Running north to south, throughout its length are the steeply rising Western Ghats. The foothills sometimes approaching the seashore and sometimes withdrawing 40 or 50 kms away seem to be playing an eternal game with the Arabian Sea. This valuable resources should be converted in to unique selling proposition (USP) different than any other state in India and create its own identity in the Tourism market.
Mumbai, India's commercial capital, and easily the most accessible city in this country, is the perfect gateway to Maharashtras’ hill country, with convenient and comfortable links by road, rail, and air
Many foreign tourists visit Mumbai as it is the financial capital of India. Some of these foreign tourists come to Mumbai as an entry point to India and proceed to various other states. There is need and scope to attract these visitors into Maharashtra to the various tourist destinations in our State.
Also, many foreign tourists come driving with their caravans to India, visiting the North of India during summer season and later, drive to Rajasthan and through Maharashtra and proceed to Goa during winters where ample parking is made available by the respective State Tourism Development corporations.
The States in India which are doing well in the Tourism sector have made the utmost use of the available resources within the state and marketed them in a way of a lifestyle which catches the imagination of travellers. Kerala, has waterways and unique House Boats and Ayurvedic massages; Goa, has Beaches and the unique culture of the State; Uttranchal, has the Ganges, History and foot hills of Himalayas and plenty Camping grounds encouraging Adventure; Rajasthan, has Deserts, Forts and Havelies Himachal, Jammu Kashmir & Ladhak, have Himalayas and Snow.
All these States have a Unique Selling Point (USP)
What does Maharashtra have, to boost Tourism?
What is the USP of Maharashtra?
Aim
· Creating a tourism USP for the State of Maharashtra, totally unique than any other State, so as to make Maharashtra a preferred Tourist destination in the country.
· To attract foreign tourists in to various tourist destinations in Maharashtra.
· To encourage domestic tourists form other States to visit and travel in Maharashtra.
· Empower the Tour Operators and Travel Agencies to sell Tour packages of Maharashtra.
· Empower the youth and rural population of the State to take Tourism as a profession for growth.
The Tool for growth
Caravan Tourism can be used as an engine for growth of focus areas such as;
Fort circuits
Maharashtra has a large (31) number of forts which are valued not only for their historical significance but also for their architectural excellence.
MTDC could have tourist offices/ Information kiosks at these forts with a service of local Guides and printed material about the history of the Fort.
Caravan parking facilities on the Forts as well as at the foothills of all Forts at forest/PWD or Irrigation guest houses and encouraging trekking routes to forts, thus encouraging trekking and adventure tourism.
Coastal/Beach & Hill station circuits.
1. Maharashtra has a 720 km long affair with the Arabian Sea which extends from Dahanu and Bordi in the north up to Goa proceeding southwards. This state has a great many interesting options in store with untouched beaches all along the coast and especially in Sindhudurg district. Tourists you've got a penchant for sand, sea and surf can be taken to these undeveloped areas.
2. With its vast natural resources and unspoiled hills and forests, Maharashtra provides loads of adventure and fun for those who may seek it. MTDC runs resorts in many beaches and hill-stations which provide for water sports, trekking, boating and other adventure sports.
3. Encourage caravan parking facilities on coastal zone regulations (CRZ) non-buildable private land along the beaches and making use of the otherwise non-productive land, thus generating revenue and also clubbing it with the existing Bed-n-Breakfast outlets.
4. Home stays and cultural shows [Koli dance & music] at fishing villages to encourage rural as well as cultural tourism.
Sindhudurg District.
Sindhudurg is 1.5 times size of Goa, with a 128-km coastline and a 75 sq.km estuarine (Creek) area. It can handle quite a huge slice of tourists who go to Goa. The entire district has a massive potential for caravan tourism along its entire coast of untouched beaches, without disturbing the ecological balance and at the same time making utmost use of non-buildable land along the coast.
Rural Tourism, involving
1. Agricultural Tourism.
· Visits to Sugarcane Plantations and Sugar factories.
· Visits to specialised plantations of crops native to Maharashtra.
2. Wine Tourism.
Visits to vineyards along with excursions and stays for tours of wine bottling units.
3. Village Tourism.
· Visits to model villages near major Cities/Towns near Tourist destinations
· Have facilities for home stays at these model villages and thus encourage rural tourism.
· Introduce tourists to local handicrafts and way of village life
Wild Life Sanctuaries/ Forests circuits
A haven for nature lovers - Maharashtra is a home to large number of animal and bird species including the Tiger, Crocodile, Bison, and Gawa, the Neelgai, Wild deer, Sambar deer and rare migratory birds.
The government should take adequate steps towards setting up parking spaces in these wildlife parks and sanctuaries around Forest Guest Houses and in the buffer zones of all sanctuaries, forest reserves and national parks to help promote these places as tourist attractions.
These parking areas could offer splendid opportunities to see a wide variety of wildlife in the spectacular natural setting and revenue can be generated form them effectively.
Infrastructure
Maharashtra has a sound infrastructure base, like network of 563 PWD Rest Houses in all the 31 districts of Maharashtra, 48 MTDC resorts which could be brought in the main stream of Tourism, by just utilising their open spaces for parking of Camper Vans/ Caravans. The open areas around the Rest-houses of Irrigation Dept, Forest Department could be brought under this effort and the caravanning Industry in Maharashtra would get a ready made caravan parking sites of more than 800 with out any expenditure to the Tourism Department and start earning revenue out of vacant land around the existing infrastructure.
The state need not have a huge budgetary allocation to develop this kind of tourism, accept for publicity and promotion of a different kind of Tourism and Travel experience, which is already in existence around the world.
The open areas in the existing infrastructure of 563 Rest Houses in all the 31 districts of Maharashtra belonging to PWD & Irrigation department can be used as caravan parking areas.
Huge open areas in the existing Forest Guest houses/ Rest houses, sanctuaries, forest reserves and national parks to be used for Caravan Parking with eco-friendly policies in place.
Open spaces in and around MTDC properties all over the state would be a very good head start in this direction.
Key Benefits
This huge wealth of idle resource like vacant land around the existing Rest-Houses will become an additional source of income and an excellent network of places available for travel and stay.
Thus we have a situation where the existing infrastructure can be used for additional growth of Tourism in Maharashtra and generate tremendous revenue source.
With Caravan Tourism the State of Maharashtra can create a unique way of Tourism different than any other state in India, and help itself in being the pioneering state to start such kind of Tourism which is otherwise famous in Australia, New Zealand, entire Europe, UK and the US.
Caravan Tourism is famous all over the world. The foreign traveller will accept this concept immediately and flow of revenue will be generated fast. The Indian Tourist, with the present day modernisation and affluence of the Indian society due to all round economic growth the awareness in people of having innovative ways of tourism has increased, thus leading to a win-win concept for all stake holders.
Caravan Tourism is sure to make Maharashtra a leader in the Tourism Industry. By making foreign tourists travel in to and explore the state instead of using it as a transit point to go to other states.
Action Plan
Introduce 50-100 Caravans as rental/Lease model in a Govt /Private partnership, with a leading Tour operator or Car rental agency.
Club the existing Bed-n-Breakfast scheme holders with caravan Tourism for parking sites in the coastal areas. (After inspection of their Properties)
Open unpaved parking spaces in MTDC properties all over the state would be a very good head start in this direction along with open lands of MTDC.
The open areas around the existing infrastructure of 563 PWD Rest Houses in all the 31 districts of Maharashtra for Caravan parking at fee.
Rest Houses of the Irrigation department can be used as caravan parking areas adding to the tally of 563.
Huge open areas in the existing Forest Guest houses/ Rest houses along with buffer zones in sanctuaries, forest reserves and national parks can be used for Caravan Parking with eco-friendly policies in place.
No Development Zones (NDZ), along the beaches can be developed as Caravan Parking Areas. Thus giving a source of income to the Land Owners and thereby starting tourism based economic activity.
Have the locations on the internet of MTDC website for the traveller to form his own route for travel.
Identify places all over Maharashtra, with an emphasis on the Coastal areas and have allotted parking places in a 150-200 Km range network.
Introduce Caravan Tourism as an incentive scheme for Tour Operators all over India and the leading car rental companies to promote Caravan Tourism.
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Coming back to the 4X4 wonder, Daulat adds that he always wanted to create something like this. “I began actual working on it in 2004. But, it was only a 30-second meeting with Ratan Tata that set things rolling for me. It took all his experience and passion for travelling to convince the Chairman of Tata Motors on this. “Nevertheless, he adds, I had to do a lot of running around before and after that too. There was no suitable vehicle in India. And the OEM’s were not ready to re-engineer their vehicle as per my requirements”. Having invested 1.5 crore from his own pocket, Daulat sought help from Tata Motors Engineering Research Centre, Pune, and the ‘Freedom’ was ready to hit the road in 2008.
Here, take a dekho at the fully loaded machine. The complete vehicle is a single piece body, made of high-end composite fiberglass material. The cabin can seat four in tow rows. A hydraulic lifting system leads to the upper section that is closed by a special water-proof cloth and mosquito netted windows. 
