The Government of Maharashtra took a significant step towards strengthening tourism governance and building globally competitive destinations by organising 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, Dilip Walse Patil and Rajesh Kshirsagar, were present during the session along with senior government officials, tourism stakeholders, hospitality industry representatives, development organisations, district administrators, and policy experts.
Addressing the gathering, Dilip Walse Patil said, “Maharashtra has immense tourism potential rooted in its rich history, culture, spirituality, wildlife, coastal landscapes, and heritage destinations. Through Destination Management Organisations, 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 marked a key milestone under Disbursement Linked Indicator (DLI)-3 of the MahaSTRIDE programme, which focuses on establishing and operationalising 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 create 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 “Role of DMOs and USP of Maharashtra – You Will Find India Here,” featuring Praveen Pardeshi (IAS), Chief Executive Officer, MITRA; Sanjay Khandare (IAS), Additional Chief Secretary (Tourism), Government of Maharashtra; Neelesh R. Gatne (IAS), Managing Director, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC); Aman Mittal (IAS), Project Director, MahaSTRIDE and Joint CEO, MITRA; Devendra Parulekar, Co-Founder, SaffronStays; and Wasim Shaikh, Chief Experience Officer, Active Experiences LLP.
Speaking during the session, Praveen Pardeshi 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.”
Sanjay Khandare stated, “The state is adopting a structured, future-oriented approach to tourism development focused on sustainable, experience-driven tourism ecosystems that benefit local communities and enhance visitor experiences.”
Neelesh R. Gatne added, “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.”
The workshop laid the foundation for a robust destination-level tourism governance framework and reaffirmed the Maharashtra Government’s commitment to sustainable, inclusive, and globally competitive tourism development that drives regional growth and employment generation.