Maharashtra's Adventure Tourism Policy: A New Path to Economic Growth

Building a safer, stronger, and more profitable adventure tourism ecosystem

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Adventure tourism is shaping up to be a major pillar of Maharashtra's tourism-led growth strategy. With its coastline, mountains, plateaus, and forests, the state is naturally suited for adventure activities. The government's Adventure Tourism Activities Policy, backed by strong incentives under the Maharashtra Tourism Policy 2024, aims to convert this potential into jobs, entrepreneurship, and sustainable investment.

The Adventure Tourism Policy provides a clear structure for promoting and regulating land, air, and water-based activities such as trekking, paragliding, scuba diving, zip-lining etc. It replaces an informal system with a defined, transparent process that ensures both safety and opportunity.

ADVENTURE AS AN ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY

Adventure tourism is one of the fastest-growing segments of the travel industry worldwide, attracting young, high-spending travellers and generating significant employment in local communities. Maharashtra's approach is to treat adventure not just as recreation but as an economic opportunity that can bring growth to its towns and villages.

Under the Maharashtra Tourism Policy 2024, eligible adventure tourism units can receive 15% of the eligible capital investment or up to ₹15 crore, whichever is less. This incentive is aimed at helping operators invest in infrastructure, safety gear, and technology to improve the quality of adventure experiences offered in the state.

To promote innovation and healthy competition, the Directorate of Tourism will also organise an Annual Best Tourism Village Competition in the Adventure Sports category with a ₹10 crore award. This initiative will encourage local communities and entrepreneurs to build adventure-based models of rural development, blending tourism with local enterprise.