In a bid to boost coastal tourism, the Tourism Dept wants to use beaches as landing and take-off points from the city to off-beat destinations

Get ready to fly to Ganpatipule, Tarkarli and Ratnagiri soon.

In a bid to boost coastal tourism, the State Tourism Department revealed ambitious plans to use beaches as landing and take-off points from the city to off-beat tourist destinations in the state.

Maharashtra Tourism Department Corporation (MTDC) is in the midst of starting the amphibian air service in Maharashtra, which will boost connectivity to untapped coastal destinations.


MTDC said small wooden jetties and speedboats would be
used to take passengers to the aircraft

In the initial phase, flight services will start from Mumbai, which will then be followed in other parts of the state.

Jagdish Patil, managing director, MTDC, added that services take-off and landing will not only be restricted to the sea, but one can land on lakes and small reservoirs too.
u00a0
No runway or airstrip is required for these aircrafts. Only small wooden jetties and speedboats will be needed to take passengers to the aircraft.

Not only this, in a bid to promote cruise travel and to have a smooth cruising experience, MTDC has already asked the Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) to have better facilities at dockyards.

In an exhibition held on Wednesday, State Tourism Minister Chhagan Bhujbal made the above announcement stating his plans to promote water tourism in the state.

Patil revealed that the tourism department was already in talks with private investors, who showed interest in starting the air service. "The project is all set to commence soon, as we have given them the support letter. We believe it will boost tourism in the state," he said.

Apart from the above projects, plans to start a sea world and dolphin safari in Sindhudurg, are also on the anvil. He added that investors from Pune, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg would be invited.

"Maharashtra state tourism department this year received Rs 25 crore to promote tourism in the state.

The state government will be spending considerable amounts of money by participating in travel mart exhibitions and promoting the state in other neighbouring states and countries," said Patil.

Keeping the security aspect in mind, Patil added that only after taking due permission from the security agencies, the project would commence.

Did you know?
The first Seaplane service in India, 'Jal Hans', was launched on December 27, 2010, connecting Port Blair and Havelock in the Andaman Islands.

The Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited (TCGL) too has decided to start an amphibian air service connecting all coastal destinations in the state.

Rs 25 cr
Amount received by the state tourism department this year