World Tourism Day 2026: Technology, Sustainability And The New Face Of Indian Tourism
Tourism in Western and Central India is moving beyond familiar destinations and conventional sightseeing. From underwater tourism in Maharashtra and eco-tourism in Gujarat to heritage, wildlife and cultural experiences across the region, the focus is increasingly on creating diverse, sustainable and immersive journeys. Mohamed Farouk, Deputy Director General and Regional Director (West & Central…
In the Western and Central India region, tourism is shifting away from traditional destinations and embracing conventional sightseeing. From underwater experiences in Maharashtra to eco-tourism in Gujarat, the focus is on offering diverse, sustainable, and immersive journeys. Mohamed Farouk, Deputy Director General and Regional Director (West & Central India) for the Ministry of Tourism, discusses the importance of technology, responsible tourism, connectivity, and involving local communities to promote lesser-known destinations.
Tourism in this region serves various purposes, including sustainable development, employment generation, cultural exchange, and local economic growth. The Ministry of Tourism has integrated technology, digital platforms, and sustainability into the tourism ecosystem. Rather than using technology only for promotion, the focus is on enhancing the overall visitor experience through digital storytelling, virtual experiences, online services, and data-driven promotion.
In post-pandemic recovery, the Western Region has made significant strides by focusing on destination-led and experience-led tourism development. Projects such as the INS Guldar underwater museum, submarine tourism, and heritage sites like Orchha and MICE infrastructure in Madhya Pradesh have been developed. The aim is to diversify the tourism product from conventional sightseeing to heritage, culture, adventure, wildlife, wellness, MICE, coastal, and experiential tourism.
Promoting offbeat and rural destinations is a key priority. Rather than concentrating on established tourist spots, the Ministry aims to distribute tourism geographically and economically, bringing lesser-known destinations into the mainstream. This can be seen in projects like Mayali Bagicha in Chhattisgarh, under the Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD) scheme.
These initiatives showcase the potential of rural, tribal, and community-based tourism, eco-tourism, heritage, adventure, and nature-based experiences to create employment, entrepreneurship, and livelihood opportunities for local communities.
Written by urgent.news from Free Press Journal's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
