Maharashtra, India to Make U.S. Push

On Tuesday in New York City, Travel Agent met with Bhushan Gagrani, managing director of the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) and secretary of tourism & cultural affairs for the government of Maharashtra, who announced the launch of a far-reaching marketing campaign in the United States, Western Europe and the Far East and to promote tourism to the Indian state. The campaign, whose slogan is "Maharashtra: unlimited," will tout the diversity of the tourism products and destinations in India's second most populous state. Maharashtra includes Mumbai (formerly Bombay), India's largest city that has long been know as its financial and commercial capital as well as the home of the Bollywood film industry. Gagrani highlighted all that Maharashtra has to offer in addition to Mumbai, such as historic UNESCO sites (the Ajanta and Ellora Caves), centuries-old forts (the Jazira-Mehruba Fort), beaches on the Arabian Sea, luxury train itineraries (Indian Railway's Deccan Odyssey) and ecotourism/nature excursions (five national parks and two tiger reserves). Gagrani's visit to Manhattan was part of the MTDC's Maharashtra Investment Forum, which included key business figures, as well as travel media. Visit [www.maharashtratourism.gov.in].