Mumbai is preparing for a tourism repositioning beyond its traditional identity as India’s financial capital, with Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) bringing together travel, culture, and tourism stakeholders to build a more immersive and globally marketable visitor ecosystem.
Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation organised a stakeholder meeting on 25 May 2026 under its new “Mumbai Tourism Experiences” initiative aimed at creating a structured and sustainable experiential tourism platform for the city.
The meeting was held under the leadership of Neelesh R. Gatne, IAS, Managing Director, MTDC, and Chandrashekhar Jaiswal, General Manager, MTDC, with participation from tourism associations, tour operators, cultural organisations, adventure tourism companies, and travel stakeholders.
Mumbai tourism narrative set for expansion
The initiative seeks to position Mumbai beyond its conventional landmarks by promoting immersive tourism experiences linked to heritage, culture, ecology, spirituality, food, festivals, and local communities.
MTDC stated that Mumbai’s identity as India’s commercial capital, international gateway, Bollywood hub, and home to a national park within city limits creates significant untapped tourism potential.
The proposed tourism circuits include Mumbai Darshan, heritage tourism, eco tourism, spiritual tourism, festival tourism, community tourism, educational tourism, and museum-led special interest tours.
Planned experiences under the initiative include guided heritage walks, mangrove and biodiversity tours, culinary trails, Japanese and Jewish heritage tours, theatre and arts experiences, ecological explorations, wellness circuits, and festival-based immersive experiences.
Community and sustainability at core
MTDC said the initiative also focuses on community participation and sustainable tourism practices while creating livelihood opportunities and encouraging heritage conservation.
More than 90 heritage and cultural institutions have already been approached for collaboration as part of the programme.
To support operations, MTDC proposed empanelment opportunities for tour operators under the Mumbai Tourism Experiences banner through multiple operational models, including revenue sharing and independent operator partnerships.
The tourism board also plans integrated promotions through digital platforms, social media campaigns, tourism events, mobile applications, and partnerships with platforms including BookMyShow, MakeMyTrip, IRCTC, and M-Indicator.
Building on the Mumbai model, MTDC announced plans to introduce similar experiential tourism initiatives in Nashik, Pune, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar with curated tourism circuits focused on heritage, spirituality, vineyards, forts, wellness, and UNESCO World Heritage attractions.
Rahul Bhadana is a digital editor at TravTalk with experience spanning multiple content niches, with a strong focus on travel trade journalism and digital publishing. A graduate of Delhi University, his work covers editorial writing, content strategy and platform-led storytelling, supporting TravTalk’s digital growth and industry engagement. A technology enthusiast, he enjoys films, poetry and exploring new ideas across media and culture.
