Babus can't be expected to make Mumbai attractive, need experts: Tourism Minister Jaykumar Rawal

Admitting that the state government needs to involve experts rather than run-of-the-mill babus to advance tourism in Mumbai, Maharashtra tourism minister Jaykumar Rawal said the launch of cruise services, Mumbai shopping festival and plans to replicate iconic projects like the Dubai Fountain, in Burj Khalifa Lake, indicated some green shoots in the sector.

Excerpts from an interview with the minister:

What are the state government's plans to develop tourism sector in Mumbai?

The operationalisation of the Mumbai-Goa cruise and international cruise routes covering Mumbai is a huge boost for the sector. In four years' time, it is expected that around 700 cruise ships will dock in Mumbai. Once on place, this ecosystem will infuse around Rs 30,000 crore in the economy.

We launched the Mumbai Mela shopping festival to attract domestic and international tourists. I have also invited stakeholders from Dubai and London to replicate projects on lines of the Dubai Fountain and the London Eye. Discussions are in preliminary stage.

The Union Ministry of Commerce has identified tourism sector as a "champion sector."

The sector is not picking up despite its touted potential. What are the challenges you face?

The tourism sector, in itself, is challenging.

Though Mumbai is an international city and a huge tourist magnet, the bottleneck lies in its saturated airport, which cannot handle additional international flights. For example, China wants to launch new direct flights to the metropolis but it cannot due to lack of slots. Many flights landing in Mumbai are hopping flights — international tourists land in Delhi instead of covering that extra mile to Mumbai.

It is also necessary to rope the services of experts on the subject in the state tourism department. It can't be left up to bureaucrats to promote the city.

Most tourist attractions in Mumbai, like the Gateway of India or Hanging Gardens, are colonial legacies. The state, in post-Independence era, has not been able to deliver similar hits.

The Mumbai Port Trust is developing a garden on 100 acres of the eastern sea front [as part of a recreational tourist district] along the lines of that in Singapore.