Workshop for setting up destination-level tourism governance bodies held at Trident Hotel, Nariman Point

Mumbai: Maharashtra has started work on setting up destination-level tourism governance bodies as part of a broader effort to position the state as a globally competitive travel hub.At a high-level workshop held at the Trident Hotel in Nariman Point earlier this month, the state government discussed the operationalization of six Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) under the World Bank-funded MahaStride programme. The initiative is being implemented by Maharashtra Tourism, with Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (MITRA) acting as the program management unit.The workshop, attended by senior bureaucrats, tourism officials, hospitality stakeholders and policy experts, marked an important milestone under MahaStride’s Disbursement Linked Indicator (DLI)-3, which focuses on setting up and operationalizing six DMOs across Maharashtra.Speaking at the event, MITRA Vice President Dilip Walse Patil said Maharashtra’s tourism potential lies in its history, culture, spirituality, wildlife, beaches and heritage sites, and stressed the need for professional and sustainable tourism management.He said, “Maharashtra has immense tourism potential inherent in its rich history, culture, spirituality, wildlife, coastal landscapes and heritage sites. Through destination management organizations, the state aims to build a professionally managed and sustainable tourism ecosystem that enhances visitor experiences, strengthens stakeholder coordination and positions Maharashtra as a globally competitive tourism destination.”The proposed DMO is envisioned as an institutional mechanism to coordinate tourism development at the destination level, improve visitor experiences and generate sustainable economic opportunities for local communities.An important announcement during the workshop was the signing of an MoU between MITRA and Atithi Foundation to support knowledge-sharing, stakeholder engagement and implementation partnerships within the tourism ecosystem of Maharashtra.A panel discussion on “Role of DMOs and USPs of Maharashtra – You will find India here” was attended by senior officials and tourism industry representatives including MITRA CEO Praveen Pardeshi, Additional Chief Secretary (Tourism) Sanjay Khandare, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation Managing Director Nilesh Gatne, MahaSTRIDE Project Director Aman Mittal and private sector tourism experts.Pardeshi said Maharashtra will need to move beyond traditional tourism promotion to emerge as a global destination.“Destination management organizations can operate as dedicated institutions that integrate tourism services, local stakeholders, branding, infrastructure, logistics and visitor experiences into an integrated ecosystem,” he said.Khandare said the government’s approach aims to create an experience-driven and sustainable tourism ecosystem rather than just promoting destinations.“Our focus is not just on promoting destinations, but on creating sustainable, experience-driven tourism ecosystems that benefit local communities, create jobs and enhance visitor experiences,” he said.Gaitne said tourism development now requires the creation of infrastructure as well as coordinated management and strong destination branding.Officials and panelists highlighted Maharashtra’s diverse tourism offerings ranging from heritage and pilgrimage circuits to coastal, wildlife, wellness and adventure tourism and said the DMO framework can help strengthen destination branding, improve governance and support local employment.Tourism department officials from Konkan, Pune, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nashik and Nagpur divisions participated in the workshop.The Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, established in 2016, is tasked with integrating cultural preservation and tourism development to enhance the visibility of Maharashtra as a travel destination while contributing to regional economic development.