Chavan said MTDC had plans to start scuba-diving and snorkelling at other places in Konkan region and also develop spots like Amboli, Kharepatan and Vengurla to attract more visitors.

“The tourists are preferring hill stations like Mahabaleswar, Panhala, Bhandardara and Karla,” said Khamkar.

"The unique feature this time is that tourists have arranged their tours during he days of Diwali too,” he said. He added that there was also a huge beeline of people for pilgrimage spots like Shirdi.

Make the best of it, take a safari at Tadoba
The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC ) has started a special Jungle Safari package at Tadoba Sanctuary in Vidarbha.

“The MTDC provides a bus from Nagpur to Tadoba every Saturday. The bus starts at 9 am and reaches Tadoba at noon. There, the tourists are taken for a safari in the jungle. Tourist can enjoy a cultural programme in the evening. On Sunday morning, there will be another safari through the jungle and at noon the tourists are taken to Baba Amte’s Anandvan from where they are brought back to Nagpur at night,” said Vijay Chavan, general manager, MTDC.

The charge for this jungle safari is Rs 4,000 per person. The cost covers transportation and food.