MTDC eyes 20% growth in tourists at Chetak Festival 2018-19

Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) is expecting 20 per cent visitor footfalls this year in the Sarangkheda Chetak Festival 2018-19, the age-old horse festival held from December 12 to January 8.

Last year 10 lakh tourist visited the Sarangkheda festival, MTDC said in a release here.

The festival is all set to witness various breeds and different kind of horses.

The festival exhibits horses from the states including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat exhibiting horse shows, horse race and dance performances to appeal to tourists from across the globe.

"The aim of the festival is to encourage the legacy of the horse fair and I am positive that the Department of Tourism and MTDC will take this festival on an international platform. The festival exhibited more than 2,500 horses from across Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. We wish to create new paths for tourism with special attention to adventure tourism to attract a huge number of visitors to the state," Maharashtra tourism minister Jaykumar Rawal said.

Meanwhile, MTDC said it has introduced bicycles at tourist spots, Ganpatipule and Mahabaleshwar promoting sustainable and eco-tourism in the state.

Both Ganpatipule and Mahabaleshwar have been recognised by MTDC as nature and beach-side resorts, where cycling posts have been created giving travellers the opportunity to hire bicycles.

MTDC has developed this with the assistance of local operators and bicycle tours can be availed at Rs 20 for one hour and Rs 100 for 24 hours at Ganpatipule.

Similarly, gear bicycles are available at Rs 100 for 1 hour at Mahabaleshwar due to its hilly terrain, it added.