TravTalk India Online Magazine
After IATO Convention in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad), Maharashtra Tourism is gung-ho about working more closely with the travel trade – not just in the state but across India. Considering them as investment partners, it is now keener than ever to work in close conjunction with them to bring in more inbound tourists into the state.
Hazel Jain
Shraddha Joshi Sharma, Managing Director, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC), says, “MTDC has resorts in various locations of Maharashtra, which showcases the strength of the state. This is being promoted with the help of local stakeholders like tour operators and travel agents from across India. We have beach resorts, wildlife resorts, heritage resorts in locations like Tadoba, near the Ajanta & Ellora caves, and other interesting tourist spots. Not only resorts, we have now launched tour packages also. So, not just stay options, but we offer a holistic package for tourists, including end to end pick-up and drop service, which we have just started under ‘Dekho Apna Maharashtra’ programme.”
Maharashtra Tourism is also focusing on sustainability. “I believe it is a must for the tourism sector, and at MTDC we endorse this concept. Just last year we launched our Responsible Tourism programme. We also follow this at all our restaurants where we avoid use of artificial colours and encourage employment to local people. In short, we encourage a responsible traveller approach,” she says. MTDC will also be launching a convention centre in Nashik soon to be called Grape Park Resort Convention centre.
The magic of 10!
BN Patil, Director, Directorate of Tourism, Maharashtra, says that they consider travel trade as an investment partner. “We are interested in increasing inbound tourism into the state. The tourism sector contributes about 9.5 per cent to the state’s GDP and our target is to increase inbound tourists, increase their stay and spend in the state. I believe in the magic of 10. What does this mean? If the tour operators create 10 tour packages for Maharashtra with 10 tourists, that leads to a tourism spend of about Rs 10,000 per tourist, that will create magic for the state,” he explains.
The Directorate of Tourism Maharashtra now has fixed an annual calendar with 14 tourism events, which will showcase heritage, natural landscapes and sites, forts, beautiful coastline, and mountains.
“We want to shift the focus of the tourists towards the lesser-known sides of the state of Maharashtra, like the national parks, Western Ghats, forts, ancient caves, and vibrant cultures. We are also gearing up for the Mumbai International festival in January 2024, where every corner of Mumbai will be involved. It is a festival by the Mumbaikar, and for the Mumbaikar,” he says.
