India has always been a major attraction for tourists from all over the world and each year there is a considerable increase in the number of tourists visiting different parts of India. India is a cradle of human and mother of history and a land of traditions and culture which is something that attracts people from all corners of the world to come here and witness an incredible experience. Ours is one of the oldest civilisations and world’s largest democracy with so much to explore here that people just cannot stop themselves to be here. Keeping this in mind Maharashtra Government has decided to focus on MICE [Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions] tourism and thus has plans t set up a promotion Board specifically for MICE tourism in the state as per the local media reports.
Speaking at a roundtable which was organised by Indian Merchants Chamber(IMC) in Mumbai to discuss the future of tourism in Mumbai, Valsa Nair Singh, principal secretary, Tourism and Culture, Government of Maharashtra said “We will soon set up a promotion Board for promoting MICE tourism in the state. The Board will be a one-stop-shop for MICE, facilitating permissions for big conferences and events. We are also looking at a system of pre-approved venues for the same and a Single Window System for hospitality.”
Even Paraag Jaiin Nainuttia, Managing Director, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation [MTDC] agreed that this new policy will be helpful for the state and will boost tourism and he also added that MTDC also plans to set up “a few casinos in the state with the required permissions.”
Earlier this month the Maharashtra Government responded to a PIL which was filed by a local gaming lawyer to discuss the options regarding the buried Maharashtra Casinos Act and the PIL filed by Jay Satya who runs the website Glaws.in Mr. Satya said that “The Maharashtra government has issued a letter to me, informing me that a meeting of the secretaries of all relevant departments, Director General of Police, Maharashtra as well as Police Commissioner of Mumbai has been called on 22nd April, 2016 to discuss options to approach the Maharashtra Casinos (Control & Tax) Act, 1976 in pursuance of the High Court order in my PIL and directive of the Chief Minister,”
He further added “The government has also evinced an interest in studying gaming laws of other jurisdictions before taking a decision and mentioned in the letter that allowing casinos would increase the footfall of foreign tourists and bring in revenues to the exchequer.”
So this looks like to be good indication to boost tourism through adding new casinos in the state.
