Fed up of the slow and not-so-helpful website of Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC)? Don't fret anymore.
Fed up of the slow and not-so-helpful website of Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC)? Don't fret anymore.
Facing flak, the state tourism department has now decided to take the competition head-on by moulding its website on the likes of a travel portal, from where private hotels and resorts can also be booked, apart from the ones owned and operated by the department itself.
Also, keeping in mind that travellers are not cheated by car or taxi drivers, MTDC will also incorporate into its fold car/taxi services by vetting such operators for safety and professionalism beforehand.
Paraag Jaiin Nainuttia, MD, MTDC, told dna that the corporation is the facilitator of tourism promotion in the state, and hence, it will also provide for booking of private hotels and resorts. "MTDC will be charging commission for it from such hotels/resorts/home-stay similar to how other travel portals earn their revenue," he said.
Commenting on the car/taxi services, Nainuttia said, "We will just ask the service providers to meet the standards and parameters of safety and convenience set by MTDC. The concept will be similar to that adopted at airports wherein the booking is done before the passenger comes out of the arrival area. The fares are fixed and the passenger, under no circumstances, can be charged extra."
A senior official from the ministry of tourism added: "We will not be interfering with the pricing mechanism of these private entities, as it has to be market-driven."
According to PhoCusWright, a global travel market research firm, almost half of the online air and hotel bookings are transacted by online travel agencies (OTAs). MakeMyTrip, Goibibo, Expedia, Travelxp, Yatra, etc. are some of the important players fighting to tap the ever-growing Indian middle class and upper class travelers wanting to go on a holiday.
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