The newly opened Bandra-Worli Sea Link is a cynosure for all eyes. The first five days of the free traffic saw crowds thronging the link and rendering the solution for easing traffic, actualy being a problem. However, the opportunity that this throws up is that of elevating this link into a commercially viable tourist destination matching that Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco or London Bridge or closer home, Hangzhou Bay Bridge in China.
The travel trade fraternity feels, ?there is enormous tourism potential in BWSL and a tour itinerary of the city would be incomplete without an exhilarating ride through the bridge.? The BWSL was opened a few days ago and has since become a major attraction for locals and tourists, alike. Travel operators said the government should seriously look at options of making the bridge tourist-friendly.
As of now, the BWSL is basically a means to transport and the government has not incorporated tourism into it. But it is still not too late to do so, avers the travel trade.
?The biggest high for a tourist to Mumbai is that he/she can avoid the slums by zipping past this landmark architecture,? says Gour Kanjilal, executive director, Indian Association of Tour Operators. ?If the government would look at reserving a lane for pedestrians or even setting up a watch tower through which the skyline of Mumbai could be seen from a vantage point at a price, it will bring revenue and boost tourism,? he added. Government is looking into it, said sources at the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation.
Says, Om Prakash, director, InOrbit Tours & Travels, ?The government, especially the tourism department and other departments connected with the sea bridge along with the travel trade can come together and devise ways to encourage tourism of this iconic architectural marvel. They could allow for tickets to be sold by travel agents so that the line for toll collection is reduced. There is a museum at the Bandra side of the bridge which has information about the bridge and its history. Similar or any other attractive tourist attractions on the Worli side too would be an interesting option.?
The sea link would interest even a casual visitor to the city. And for inbound tourists, it can be a high point of their travel, feels Nikhil Rungta, head, marketing, Yatra.com.
?Since the bridge has only recently opened, things have to stabilise first. However, it will definitely become part of any city tour itinerary,? he reckons. Concurs Vishal Suri, COO, Leisure Outbound, Thomas Cook India ,
?Though we do not have any packages promoting the BWSL currently, we definitely would be including the new wonder as a must-see recommendation in our Mumbai tours.?
Cox & Kings India has already started getting requests from inbound travellers to include BWSL in their itinerary explains Karan Anand, head?relationships and supplier management, Cox & Kings India. ?Since the BWSL is a proud landmark in the city, we are happy to service this request.?