The government of Maharashtra came out with its Tourism Policy in 2016 with the objectives of designating tourism as one of its priority sectors and a catalyst to generate jobs at source and usher socio-economic development of the regions in the State. The Policy targeted to generate one million jobs in the tourism sector and INR 30,000 Crore in investments by 2025. But, since 2021, post pandemic, it has witnessed unprecedented changes in tourist preferences and demands, technological disruptions, expanding tourism supply chain, increasing price competitiveness, staff shortage due to lock-downs, etc. which have transformed the tourism sector. This has forced Government and Industry to review their targets, policy / operating environment, undertake necessary reforms, and collaborate with each other more efficiently. Therefore, Directorate of Tourism, Government of Maharashtra, who is responsible for an overall development of tourism sector in the State, intended to understand the
impact of its Tourism Policy 2016 and carry out necessary modifications with a larger focus on private sector investments. They also wanted to develop a systematic plan for releasing funds to district level authorities for tourism development through specific guidelines.