Maharashtra aims 60% rise in tourist arrivals in 5 years

MUMBAI: Maharashtra has targeted an ambitious 60 per cent increase in the tourist arrivals in the state in the next five years, a senior official said today.

"Within the next five years, we are targeting to increase footfalls by 60 per cent in the state," Maharashtra Tourism Director Avinash Dhakne told PTI on the sidelines of 'Visit Golden Maharashtra' business conference here.

"Now, there are five million people visiting the country every year. Of that, two million people are landing at Mumbai. But the tourists visiting Maharashtra every year is just 6 per cent of the total visitors," Dhakne said.

"Our department's projection is very realistic. We want to increase this number to 10 per cent within next five years," he said.

Tourism Minister Vijaykumar Gavit inaugurated the two-day conference.