From Destinations to Experiences: Maharashtra Unveils New Tourism Governance Vision
Mumbai, May 25, 2026: In a significant move to strengthen tourism governance and develop
globally competitive destinations, the Government of Maharashtra organised a high-level
workshop on Destination Management Organisations (DMOs) on May 12, 2026, at Trident
Hotel, Nariman Point, Mumbai. The workshop was organised under the MahaSTRIDE
Operation, a World Bank-funded initiative implemented by Maharashtra Tourism, with the
Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (MITRA) serving as the Programme Management
Unit (PMU).
Deputy Chairmen of MITRA, Shri Dilip Walse Patil and Shri Rajesh Kshirsagar, were present at
the session. Speaking on the occasion, Shri Dilip Walse Patil stated, “Maharashtra has immense
tourism potential rooted in its rich history, culture, spirituality, wildlife, coastal landscapes, and
heritage destinations. 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 workshop brought together senior government officials, tourism stakeholders, hospitality
industry representatives, development organizations, district administrators, and policy experts to
deliberate on globally benchmarked tourism governance models and their relevance to
Maharashtra.
The workshop marked a key milestone under Disbursement Linked Indicator (DLI)-3 of the
MahaSTRIDE programme, which focuses on establishing and operationalizing six Destination
Management Organisations across Maharashtra. These DMOs are envisioned as institutional
mechanisms that will drive integrated tourism development, strengthen destination-level
coordination, enhance visitor experiences, and generate sustainable economic opportunities for
local communities.
A key highlight of the event was the announcement of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
between MITRA and the ATITHI Foundation to support knowledge-sharing, stakeholder
engagement, and implementation partnerships within Maharashtra’s tourism ecosystem.
Another major highlight was a panel discussion on the “Role of DMOs and USP of Maharashtra
– You Will Find India Here,” featuring Shri Praveen Pardeshi (IAS), Chief Executive Officer,
Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (MITRA); Shri Sanjay Khandare (IAS), Additional
Chief Secretary (Tourism), Government of Maharashtra; Shri Neelesh R. Gatne (IAS), Managing
Director, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC); Shri Aman Mittal (IAS),
Project Director, MahaSTRIDE and Joint CEO, MITRA; Shri Devendra Parulekar, Co-Founder,
SaffronStays; Shri Wasim Shaikh, Chief Experience Officer, Active Experiences LLP; along
with other sector experts.
The workshop was also attended by Mrs Pradnya Manohar, Deputy Director, Konkan Division,
Directorate of Tourism (DoT), Shri. Bharat Langhi, Deputy Director, Pune Division, DoT, Shri.
Vijay Jadhav, Deputy Director, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Division, DoT, Shri. Nandkumar
Raut, Deputy Director, Nashik Division, DoT and Shri. Prashant Sawai, Deputy Director,
Nagpur Division, DoT.
Speaking during the session, panelists highlighted Maharashtra’s diverse tourism offerings
ranging from heritage and pilgrimage tourism to coastal, wildlife, wellness, and adventure
tourism. They emphasized that the DMO framework would strengthen destination-level
governance, improve stakeholder coordination, support destination branding, enhance visitor
experiences, and generate local employment opportunities.
By bringing together government institutions, private sector stakeholders, development partners,
and tourism experts on a common platform, the workshop laid the foundation for a robust
destination-level tourism governance framework in Maharashtra. The initiative reflects the State
Government’s commitment to building a sustainable, inclusive, and globally competitive tourism
ecosystem that drives regional development, employment generation, and long-term economic
growth.
Quotes:
Shri Praveen Pardeshi (IAS), Chief Executive Officer, Maharashtra Institution for
Transformation (MITRA), said, “Maharashtra possesses extraordinary tourism potential, but to
emerge as a truly global tourism destination, we must move beyond conventional promotion and
adopt professional destination management practices. Destination Management Organisations
can serve as dedicated institutions that integrate tourism services, local stakeholders, branding,
infrastructure, logistics, and visitor experiences into a unified ecosystem.”
Shri Sanjay Khandare (IAS), Additional Chief Secretary (Tourism), Government of
Maharashtra, emphasised that “the operationalizing Destination Management Organisations,
Maharashtra is taking a structured, future-oriented approach to tourism development. Our focus
is not only on promoting destinations, but on creating sustainable, experience-driven tourism
ecosystems that benefit local communities, generate employment, and enhance visitor
experiences.”
Shri Neelesh R. Gatne (IAS), Managing Director, Maharashtra Tourism Development
Corporation (MTDC), said, “Tourism development today requires much more than
infrastructure creation; it requires professional destination management, seamless visitor
experiences, strong branding, and coordinated stakeholder participation. The DMO framework
can help create structured, professionally managed destinations that strengthen local economies,
improve tourism services, and enhance Maharashtra’s competitiveness in the global tourism
market.”
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