Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation, Suresh Prabhu, has writtento Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Tourism, K.J. Alphons, and Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, for developing Maharashtra coast as atourist hotspot. He said that the marine leisure sector is the fastest growing segment of the travel industry and growth ofcruise ship industry, seaside destination resorts, marine parks, scuba diving and aquariums. India, with a coast line of 7500 km., has tremendous potential for development in this sector.

Commerce Minister said that the Ministry has received a proposal from the Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC) and Indian Institute of Scuba Diving and Aquatic Sports (IISDA) Malwan, Sindhudurg, for a comprehensive plan  to encourage marine tourism along the coast of Maharashtra. The proposal includes development of scuba diving and domestic cruise tourism destinations at Angria Bank, underwater tourism of global standards, submarine tourism in Sindhudurg, setting up India’s largest aquarium in Sindhudurg to create awareness about marine biodiversity and strengthening IISDA as an accredited Institute for innovation and skill development in the aquatic tourism sector.

The Commerce Minister said that this proposal will complement tourism Ministry’s initiative for development of coastal circuit in Sindhudurg to be executed through Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation for which an amount of ₹ 82.17 Cr. has already been sanctioned. Commerce Minister hasrequested Mr. Alphons and chief Minister of Maharashtra to consider the proposal for early action under the Champion Sector Initiative.

In February2018, Union Cabinet had decided to give focused attention to 12 champion services sectors and mandated the identified nodal Ministries and Departments to formulate sectoral action plans under the dedicated fund of ₹ 5000 Crore. Ministry of Tourism has been identified as the nodal Ministry for the Tourism and Hospitality Champion Service Sector.

Coastal tourism development seeks expansion of marine leisure infrastructure and inclusion under champion services initiative for skill and institutional strengthening. Request to develop the Maharashtra coast as a coastal tourism initiative proposing scuba diving sites, domestic cruise tourism destinations, submarine and underwater tourism, a major aquarium to promote marine biodiversity awareness, and strengthening the Indian Institute of Scuba Diving and Aquatic Sports as an accredited centre for innovation and skill development; the proposal is intended to complement the Ministry of Tourism's coastal circuit and be considered under the Champion Services Initiative.