Aurangabad to Host Country's First SAARC Tourism Summit in October

The Ministry of External Affairs has decided to host country's first SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) Tourism Summit in Aurangabad, Maharashtra during this October. The two-day summit is aimed at tapping FDI under Make in Maharashtra and under Make in India schemes.

According to the press release, a Start Up scheme was also announced that will provide financial assistance up to INR 50 lakh to the desirous persons in the tourism business set up. 

The program director Valsa Nair Singh - IAS, Principal Secretary Tourism and Culture, Government of Maharashtra said “The upcoming two years are crucial for the progress and prosperity of the tourism sector. The year 2017 will be celebrated as Visit Maharashtra Year and the year 2018 we will be celebrating completion of 200 years of the discovery of the world heritage Ajanta Caves by British officer John Smith. A campaign to promote tourism destinations of Maharashtra globally will be undertaken aggressively under Visit Maharashtra 2017.”