Maharashtra Tourism Policy 2024: Scheme Overview & Consulting

The Government of Maharashtra has unveiled its monumental Tourism Policy 2024, committing an annual budgetary sanction of INR 1,666 crore to transition the state from an "Emerging Tourism" destination into a global "Leading State". With a target to attract INR 1,00,000 crore in fresh private investments and create 18 lakh jobs over the next decade, this policy creates unprecedented financial avenues for private enterprises, MSMEs, and ultra-mega developers.

Navigating the complex matrix of government resolutions, capital expenditure calculations, and structural eligibility criteria demands seasoned expertise. Unique Group, India’s premier industrial subsidy and government support scheme consultancy, bridges the gap between policy mandates and your maximum fiscal entitlement. With a 15-year track record of high-value subsidy clearances, we engineer your compliance frameworks to unlock up to 20% in direct capital incentives, comprehensive SGST refunds, interest subventions, and crucial non-fiscal exemptions.

The Maharashtra Tourism Policy 2024 provides a structurally layered framework designed to subsidize capital acquisition, lower structural operational costs, and offer robust regulatory relaxations. Below is the exhaustive breakdown of all fiscal and non-fiscal components available under this scheme.

Capital Investment Subsidy for MSME, Large, Mega & Ultra Mega

Other Incentives for MSME

Other Incentives for Large, Mega and Ultra Mega tourism projects

Other Incentives for other Tourism Units

 

Other Tourism Units Include

• Adventure Tourism Units (Air, Land & Water based units)
• Agro Tourism/ Rural Tourism/Eco Tourism
• Beach Shacks
• Caravan & Caravan Park
• Home Stay/ Bed & Breakfast/ Vacation Rental Homes/ Tented Accommodation / Tourist Apartments
• Other units as mentioned in the para indicating eligible units in this chapter.

Specialized Niche & Strategic Subsidies

• Sustainability Initiatives Incentive: Reimbursement up to 25% of capital cost (Ceiling: INR 25 Lakhs or actual GST paid cost) for executing green initiatives such as solar PV installations, zero liquid discharge sewage systems, rainwater harvesting, organic waste converters, and captive EV transport setups.
• Quality Certification Reimbursements: 100% financial assistance up to INR 2 Lakhs for National Certifications and up to INR 10 Lakhs for International Certifications recognized by the Ministry of Tourism (e.g., Travel for LiFE registration).
• Turnover-Linked Tax Rebates for Inbound Tourism: Inbound Tour Operators, MICE organizers, and Destination Wedding Operators registering a defined minimum annual turnover and passenger count receive a turnover tax rebate ranging from 12% to 15%.
• Marketing & Exhibition Subsidies: 50% booth/space rental reimbursements for exclusively promoting Maharashtra tourism: up to INR 2 Lakhs within the state, INR 3 Lakhs nationally, and INR 5 Lakhs for international travel marts.
• ICT Enablement & Digital Production Grants: One-time 25% financial incentive up to INR 10 Lakhs for tour/travel operators creating advanced digital materials (audio/video guides, AI, VR, Metaverse applications) to publicize state tourist destinations.
• Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for PPP Projects: Capital or operational grants up to 40% of the total project cost for state-backed, structurally unviable tourism infrastructure developments.

Our Industrial Consulting Pillars

• End-to-End Compliance Portfolio Management: From initial provisional registration and documentation of effective steps to securing the final Eligibility Certificate, we handle the entire administrative architecture.
• Technical Engineering of ECI Claims: We accurately segregate eligible versus ineligible capital expenditures, certifying your MEP, structural, and sustainable machinery valuations to achieve maximum capital matching.
• Hyper-Local & Pan-India Geographic Expertise: Our specialized liaison network spans all key micro-markets of Maharashtra, from the high-yield growth hub of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and urban centers like Pune, Nashik, and Nagpur, to the high-potential coastal stretches of the Konkan (Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Raigad, Thane).
• A Proven Track Record of Success: For 20 years, Unique Group has successfully navigated state financial rules, cabinet sub-committee protocols, and multi-tier institutional frameworks to deliver financial clearances for premium hospitality brands, industrial units, and infrastructure consortia.

Mandatory Compliance Requirements for Policy Benefits

To qualify for any fiscal incentives, subsidies, or non-fiscal benefits under the Tourism Policy of Maharashtra 2024, all tourism units and operators must strictly fulfill the following three baseline prerequisites:

Mandatory Institutional Registration

• All operational business entities must be formally registered with both the Directorate of Tourism (DoT), Government of Maharashtra, and the Ministry of Tourism (MoT), Government of India.
• Benefits will not be disbursed to unregistered properties or agencies.

"Travel for LiFE" Certification

• Applicants must complete formal registration and achieve certification under the national "Travel for LiFE" mission.
• This requirement aligns your business with sustainable, eco-friendly practices as mandated by national tourism frameworks.

Exclusive Platform Utilization

• Once the Directorate of Tourism's official online application systems and unified booking platforms are fully operational, businesses must exclusively utilize these platforms for their formal operations, bookings, and incentive applications.

Important Note: Failure to comply with any of the three steps above will result in the immediate disqualification of your project or unit from receiving state subsidies, tax exemptions, or industry-status utility rates.

Turn Policy Benefits Into Financial Returns - Connect with Us Today

Do not let administrative complexity delay your financial returns. Let Unique Group design an optimized subsidy roadmap for your project, ensuring your development capital yields maximum financial support under the Maharashtra Tourism Policy 2024.

Contact our expert Subsidy Consultants today to schedule a comprehensive project evaluation.

Technical Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• What constitutes an "effective step" to claim eligibility under the Maharashtra Tourism Policy 2024?

  An eligible project must demonstrate that its initial financial investment (such as a land purchase deed or a formalized equipment work order), its first term loan disbursement, or its structural building construction permission was executed on or after the official notification date of the 2024 policy.

• How are capital investment incentives calculated for tourism expansion projects?

  For expansion projects, the Eligible Capital Investment (ECI) is calculated strictly for the new expansion component. To qualify, the expansion must increase the project's existing operational capacity (such as the total number of lettable rooms or installed amusement rides) by more than 50%.

• Are land acquisition costs included in the 20% capital incentive calculation?

  No. Under section 14.5.2, land costs are explicitly classified as ineligible components for capital investment incentives. Land assets are considered solely for calculating the state's SGST reimbursement allocations.

• What sustainable development setups qualify for the Sustainability Initiatives Incentive?

  Enterprises can claim up to a 25% rebate (capped at INR 25 Lakhs) on machinery and infrastructure dedicated to rainwater harvesting, desilting defunct on-premises water bodies, solar PV installations, mini-wind turbines, wastewater treatment plants (ASP, MBR, RO technologies), on-site organic waste converters, and captive utility electric vehicles (EVs).

• How does the policy support MICE and Convention Centre developments?

  MICE facilities that feature at least one convention hall with a minimum seating capacity of 1,000 individuals, a dedicated parking lot accommodating at least 200 cars and 20 coaches, and integrated EV charging stations qualify for a 15% capital subsidy (capped at INR 15 Crore) alongside zonal SGST and power tariff refunds.

• What is the mandatory compliance requirement regarding digital registration platforms?

  All eligible tourism units must maintain an active registration with the Directorate of Tourism (DoT) and the Ministry of Tourism (MoT). Furthermore, integrating your operational booking inventory with the official DoT booking platform is mandatory as a core condition for incentive disbursement.

• What is the operative period of the Tourism Policy of Maharashtra 2024?

  The policy comes into effect on its date of publication (July 18, 2024) and will remain valid for 10 years or until amended by a new policy. The Government of Maharashtra reserves the right to extend or reduce this duration based on requirements.

• What are the main economic and employment targets of this policy?

  Over the 10-year policy period, the State aims to achieve:

  • Fresh private investments of approximately INR 1,00,000 Crore.
  • Creation of around 18 lakh direct and indirect jobs.
  • A 2X increase in tourist inflow by developing destinations and infrastructure.
  • Support for the state's broader goal of reaching a USD 1 trillion economy by FY28.
• Are there extra benefits for women or marginalized entrepreneurs?

  Yes. New tourism units owned and managed by women entrepreneurs, SC, ST, or differently-abled individuals (with a minimum of 51% equity participation in the entity) are entitled to an additional 5% capital incentive.

• What is the Maharashtra Rural Tourism Competition?

  It is an initiative to promote rural economies by selecting and funding villages (with a population under 25,000) dedicated to preserving heritage, crafts, and sustainable tourism. Winning villages receive dedicated infrastructure development funds:

  • State Level Winner: INR 10 Crore.
  • Division Level Winner: INR 5 Crore.
  • Category Winners within Divisions: INR 1 Crore each.
• Are there any mandatory compliance steps to receive benefits?

  Yes. To avail of any fiscal or non-fiscal benefits under the 2024 policy, units must:

  • Be registered with the Directorate of Tourism (DoT) and the Ministry of Tourism (MoT) Govt. of India.
  • Mandatorily complete registration and certification under the national "Travel for LiFE" mission.
  • Exclusively utilize the official booking platform and online application systems of the DoT once fully operational.