MTDC unites trade to position Mumbai as global experiential hub
Stakeholders meet for 'Mumbai tourism Experiences’
As part of the initiative, more than 90 heritage and cultural institutions have been approached for collaboration, and proposes the development of curated thematic tourism circuits.
Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) organised a Stakeholders Meet, on the “Mumbai Tourism Experiences,” aimed at creating a unified, structured and globally visible tourism ecosystem for Mumbai that shows Mumbai beyond its conventional landmarks and positions the city as a vibrant global tourism destination.
The meeting was organised under the leadership of Neelesh R. Gatne IAS, Managing Director, MTDC, and guidance of Chandrashekhar Jaiswal, General Manager, MTDC.
Manasi Kothare, HoD – Business Development, delivered a presentation on the initiative, outlining the agenda of the meeting and the proposed way forward for the Mumbai Tourism Experiences initiative.
Representatives from key tourism stakeholders and organisations including IATO, ATOAI, ADTOI, TAFI, MTOA, Thomas Cook, Elysium Travels, Odati Adventures, Camp & Joy, Mercury Travels, Olive Green Ventures, Savarkar Pratishthan, Khaki Tours, The Rumours Club, Naturalist Explorers, Mischief Treks, Shivshakti Enterprises and others were said to be present at the meeting.
The initiative seeks to bring together tour operators, institutions, cultural organisations, experts, local communities, and tourism stakeholders under a unified tourism platform to curate immersive, professionally managed, and sustainable tourism experiences across Mumbai.
Speaking on the occasion, MTDC highlighted that Mumbai is not merely a city, but an emotion and experience that reflects resilience, creativity, diversity, and constant energy. The initiative intends to create a refreshed tourism narrative that captures Mumbai’s evolving identity while enhancing visitor experiences and increasing tourism visibility.
Under the Mumbai Tourism Experiences initiative, MTDC proposes the development of curated thematic tourism circuits including Mumbai Darshan, Heritage Tourism, Eco Tourism, Spiritual Tourism, Community Tourism, Festival Tourism, Educational Tourism, Cultural Tourism, Museum & Special Interest Tours, and Sensitization Tours.
As part of the initiative, more than 90 heritage and cultural institutions reportedly been approached for collaboration. Proposed tourism experiences include guided heritage walks, mangrove and biodiversity tours, festival-based immersive experiences, culinary trails, Japanese and Jewish heritage tours, wellness and spiritual circuits, educational study tours, theatre and arts experiences, and expert-led ecological and architectural explorations.
The initiative also emphasises community participation and sustainable tourism practices, aiming to create livelihood opportunities for local communities while promoting responsible tourism and heritage conservation.
To facilitate structured tourism operations, MTDC proposed empanelment opportunities for tour operators, enabling them to design, curate, and operate thematic experiences under the Mumbai Tourism Experiences banner. Various operational models including fixed fee, revenue sharing, and independent operator models were presented, with MTDC offering promotional and facilitation support.
The initiative will be supported through integrated promotions across websites, mobile applications, social media campaigns, brochures, tourism events, and strategic platform integrations including BookMyShow, MakeMyTrip, IRCTC, and M-Indicator.
Expected outcomes of the initiative include stronger tourism branding for Mumbai, increased tourist engagement and stay duration, higher tourism spending, greater employment opportunities, sustainable tourism practices, and stronger public-private-community partnerships.
Building upon the Mumbai model, MTDC also announced plans to expand similar experiential tourism initiatives to other iconic destinations in Maharashtra including Nashik, Pune, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, with curated tourism circuits focused on heritage, spirituality, vineyards, culture, forts, wellness, and UNESCO World Heritage attractions.
