Madhavi
Rajadhyaksha | TNN
Mumbai: If you find yourself wondering about where to take your foreign guests for a taste of heritage in and around Mumbai, this might be of some help. Historical caves, particularly Ajanta, Ellora and Elephanta emerged as the most popular heritage tourist stops for foreigners over the last three years. Lesser-known heritage sites such as Bibi ka Maqbara, considered Maharashtra’s replica of the Taj Mahal, and the Agakhan Palace near Pune, a live memorial of sorts for Mahatma Gandhi, have also been witnessing increasing foreign footfalls.
Mumbai: If you find yourself wondering about where to take your foreign guests for a taste of heritage in and around Mumbai, this might be of some help. Historical caves, particularly Ajanta, Ellora and Elephanta emerged as the most popular heritage tourist stops for foreigners over the last three years. Lesser-known heritage sites such as Bibi ka Maqbara, considered Maharashtra’s replica of the Taj Mahal, and the Agakhan Palace near Pune, a live memorial of sorts for Mahatma Gandhi, have also been witnessing increasing foreign footfalls.
Despite
the repeated terror strikes and inadequate tourist infrastructural facilities
in the state, foreign tourists visiting the state’s ticketed heritage monuments
have jumped by around 35 % in the last three years. The number of foreign
visitors rose from 99,540 in 2008-09 to 1.33 lakh in 2010-11, figures from the
ministry of culture showed.
State
authorities attribute the piqued foreign interest in Maharashtra’s heritage to
their tourism promotion efforts, even as heritage experts say more are needed
if we are to hold tourist interest. After all, the number of foreign
visitors to even the state’s most popular heritage destination, the Ellora
caves, which date back to 200 BC, pales in comparison to India’s wonder, Taj
Mahal, which had an inflow of around 6.23 lakh foreigners in the same period.
Officials
from the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation say they are doing their
best to inculcate interest in the state’s cultural heritage. The state spends around
Rs 15 crore on tourism promotional activities annually. The cultural music
festivals at Ajanta and Ellora caves are among the best received tourism
initiatives, says Vijay Chavan, GM, MTDC.
But
are the sites equipped to entertain the increasing burst of interest? Heritage
conservation expert Dev Mehta rues the fact that most heritage sites lack basic
tourist facilities.
Increased
footfalls come with the challenge of balancing cultural interest with
conservation, say experts, pointing out that actual footfalls would also
include locals. Desi tourists formed the major chunk of visitors to these
sites–an estimated 55.08 lakh in 2010-11. Mehta suggests that state bodies
should draw up tourist management plans.
Source: TOI Mumbai
