'We must take pride in our local heritage'

Recently I read a report by MasterCard listing the top 20 cities which received international tourists in 2014 London topped the list with 189 million visitors Mumbai had only 49 million and did not make it to the top 20 list Neither did any other Indian cityCommon sense suggests that a large chunk of the arrivals into Mumbai are business visitors Although many meetings and conferences are held in Mumbai we are not among the worldrsquos most popular conference venuesWhy I think itrsquos because conferences are not just about business mdash theyrsquore also about entertainment And Mumbai despite being the entertainment capital of India has no entertainment for touristsRight Deepa Krishnan in Null Bazaar while explaining spices and fragrances to a touristIn other countries people queue up to fork out significant amounts of money to see professionallyrun moviestudio tours A VIP experience of Universal Studios costs 300 and a regularJoe tour costs 80Dadar Flower Market is a delightful melange of chaos and colour PicShadab KhanThe studios actively promote these tours They make money not just from entry ticket sales but also merchandise sales restaurants bars performance show tickets etc But Mumbai has nothing comparable to offerVasai Fort is a treasure that needs immediate help PicNimesh DaveI think it will completely change the Mumbai tourism industry if Mehboob Studio or Film City makes a great studio tour with movie history dance music dining and other entertainment options Just think about the possibilities What if the entire Kapoor clan promoted an R K Studios tour Irsquom told they still preserve all the costumes from their sets What if the Bollywood Khans became ambassadors for Film City toursMumbai needs more annual festivals like the Kala Ghoda Festival PicSayed Sameer Abedi I think Bollywood can make Mumbai not just a prized conference venue but the number one leisure tourist destination in India for both international and domestic tourists But none of the studios in Mumbai seem to share this vision Forget studio tours there is not even a daily song and dance show on offer based on the movies What a waste of Mumbairsquos potential as an entertainment hubA shoot in progress at Film City PIC COURTESYAFPApart from entertainment we also need to revitalise and improve other aspects of the city We have a great art district in Kala Ghoda which could be made into a pedestrian plaza with cafeacutes boutiques and art galleries much like central Amsterdam or Brussels It could become an attractive place to showcase Maharashtrarsquos unique crafts and cuisine The nearby Ballard Estate with its oldworld charm can also become an extended part of this tourism zone It would inject life into this heritage zone which otherwise goes eerily quiet after 6 pmIrsquove always said that Mumbairsquos heart lies in its bazaars and neighbourhoods like Bhuleshwar Bhendi Bazaar Lalbaug Dadar Matunga and Bandra Each locality has its own charm These neighbourhoods are tourism assets and part of our living heritage Walking tours conducted by locals to highlight the architecture culture and cuisine of these neighbourhoods will not only attract tourists but also result in a sense of civic pride and provide impetus to local heritage conservation effortsA major part of our effort has to be towards cleanliness Mumbairsquos street food is legendary But does it have to be so unhygienic Why should international tourists coming to Mumbai have to constantly worry about falling ill In Kuala Lumpur you can eat authentic food from small street carts and not get sick The municipal authorities provide space for stalls ensure hygienic water supply and conduct regular inspections We can learn from thisPublic toilets and good public transport are two major areas where we need to focus if we want to become a tourist destination Itrsquos a miracle if you can find a clean public toilet in Mumbai The shameful reality is that tour guides in the city are constantly scrambling to solve toilet emergencies of touristsElephanta Island is a UNESCO World Heritage site but the clunky ferries that take tourists to the island have rickety motors untrained staff unsafe boarding practices and no life jacketsI have personally been stranded aboard a ferry drifting out to sea with 20 panicky international tourists We had to be towed ashore by a second boat The entire infrastructure around the Elephanta experience needs a major overhaulLastly mdash I donrsquot think we can talk about promoting tourism in Mumbai without talking about how to develop the potential of nearby areas Only if Maharashtra becomes an attractive destination will more and more people consider coming to Mumbai Maharashtra is blessed with a long coastline great trekking potential World Heritage Sites sacred pilgrimage towns unique craft traditions and great cuisine We need to raise awareness of everything this state can offerDeepa Krishnan owns Mumbai Magic a company that offers walks and guided tours of MumbaiClick here formidday 36th anniversary special