Former Union Minister Bhagwat Karad announced on Thursday, July 10, 2025, during the 26th annual convention of the Tourist Guides Federation of India (TGFI) in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, that efforts will be made to establish a campus of the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM) in the city.

Currently, IITTM, an autonomous body under the Union Ministry of Tourism offering education and training in tourism management, has seven centers across India, with none in Maharashtra. Karad, a Rajya Sabha MP, highlighted this gap and pledged to address it.

The convention also saw TGFI national coordinator Ajay Singh urging government support, including insurance for guides. Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) president Ravi Gosain encouraged guides to innovate with new tour packages and leverage social media for promotion, emphasizing their role as "soft diplomats" shaping India’s image.

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