Maharastra government has approved the Caravan Tourism Policy which aims to not only provide a different experience to travel enthusiasts but also promote tourism in the state’s remote areas and create job opportunities. According to Principal Secretary of the State Tourism Department, Valsa Nair Singh, statement in OrissaPost, the policy is expected to provide a different experience other than the traditional stays to the people who love to travel.
Travel enthusiasts can explore Maharastra, which is covered with colourful shrines, historic caves, golden beaches lined with swaying palm trees, forests, heritage sites and hill stations. The Caravan policy will allow private players to get vehicles for tourism and set up caravan parks at public and private places.
What is Caravan?
A Caravan is a specially built vehicle used for the purpose of travel, leisure and accommodation. These caravans well equipped with facilities like beds for stay at night, kitchen, toilet, sofa and table for the comfort of the travellers.
What is Caravan Park?
A caravan park is a place where such vehicles can stay overnight, where basic or advanced amenities and facilities such as water refill, battery charging and disposal of sewage are provided.
As per the plan for Caravan, this park will set up in the buffer zone of a forest, near a dam or the base of a hill fort. Food courts will be available there and information regarding local sightseeing spots will be provided. The Maharastra State government has allowed the use of different sets of caravan like single-axle and twin-axle caravans, folding caravan, camper trailer.
The land available from irrigation, forest or revenue departments or the Maharastra Tourism Development Corporation will be identified and developed for this purpose. These places will have basic facilities like electricity, water, security, safety. A memorandum of understanding will be signed with private tour operators for its use.
Talking about the initiative, Dhananjay Sawalkar, director of Tourism said, “The caravan policy will also cater to the seasonal and the festive demands, particularly when there is a Kumbh Mela in Nashik or Pandharpur Yatra etc. There is a lot of demand from travellers for accommodation, especially in small towns. So this caravan facility will cater to the demand. The Tourism Department is also giving incentives in the form of state GST, electricity duty, stamp duty and commercial water charges.
