The State Tourism Boards of Maharashtra and Baden-Württemberg, Southern Germany have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with an aim to increase tourism exchange between the states. Sumit Mullik, Sumit Mullick, Principal Secretary – Additional Charge Tourism and Chief Protocol Officer, MTDC; Alexander Bonde, Tourism Minister and Andreas Braun, CEO, TMBW signed the MoU at the recently concluded ITB Berlin 2014. The focus, Hector D’Souza, Director – India, South West German Tourism revealed, is to bring the tourism boards closer and share information on key developments.
Speaking exclusively with T3, D’Souza said, “As part of the alliance, Stuttgart will share South West Germany’s successful sustainable tourism practices with Maharashtra, such as defining carrying capacity of destination, purification of water, water management in tourist locations, communication and optimum utilisation of space, among others. Certain practices we have developed over time and can be easily replicated in India if the required permissions are granted. The partnership will also create a Most Favoured Nation (MFN) model for the states, making each one the most favoured state for tourism.”
The MoU has been inked for a period of one year, extendable by a year at a time if successful. Speaking about why Maharashtra was chosen for the partnership, D’Souza stated that Stuttgart and Mumbai twin city partners for 44 years, providing the states with an existing strong connection. “If the cities are partners the states can come together as well. Mutually beneficial relationships are the key to tourism development,” he concluded.
