A New ICT based Business Model for Tourism Industry for the Maharashtra and Goa States of India K. B. Mahajan*, A. S. Patil**, R. H. Gupta***, B. V. Pawar**** Abstract Tourism is the act of travel for the purpose of recreation. It is an industry of moving, housing and entertaining people. It is one of the world’s largest service industries and fastest growing economic sectors in terms of generating gross revenue as well as earning of foreign exchange. Nowadays the Internet and the developments in ICTs have revolutionized the entire tourism industry all over the world. It provides new tools and enables new distribution channels to create a new business environment. In order to increase the effciency and effectiveness of transactions, to reduce the cost of transactions and to provide the one stop services to the customers, tourism market needs a new ICT based business model to grow tourism industry in the states of Maharashtra and Goa. In this paper we propose a new ICT based tourism business model that includes the modern tools of ICT which affects the tourism business as a whole. Keywords: Tourism, Maharashtra, Goa, Information Communication Tools, Business Model INTRODUCTION Information Communication Technology (ICT) is having a deep impact on the tourism sector all over the world (Deepthi, S. 2008). It is one of the most deeply affected industries amongst all other industries. It has provided several tools that are useful for the promotion and regular operations of the tourism business. ICT has enabled the connectivity between different sections of the industry i.e., various actors of tourism, to have trade with each other which in turn saves time and energy. There has been a drastic change in the way things are executed for instance, exchange of information, distribution of products and various services etc. All the services offered by ICT are available at the fnger tips of the user. The tourists are also given the opportunity to remotely access and communicate with various tourism agencies to get a better deal. It enables businesses to integrate business activities or functions. Here, we have spelt out the need of an ICT based business model for the states of Maharashtra and Goa, which will support integration of information in variety of sectors spread all over both of the states. This integration of ICTs with the business model will make use of ICTs to their full potential and it will also be useful to attract tourist infow to both the states. In this paper we propose the ICT based tourism business model which has high level of integration, it satisfes the tourist needs by providing service like one-stop tourism. It however requires collaborative efforts by building a strategic alliance among the different actors involved in the tourism industry. LITERATURE REVIEW The business model is a framework for successful business practices ranging from business ideas to sources of revenue and the distribution structure for partners. In order to increase the effciency and effectiveness of the transaction, to reduce the cost of transaction and to provide direct services to customers, the tourism markets need a new business model to * Associate Professor, Moolji Jaitha College, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India. ** Associate Professor, School of Computer Sciences, North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India. *** Professor, School of Social Sciences, North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India. **** Professor and Director, School of Computer Sciences, North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India. E-mail: bvpawar@nmu.ac.in. International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Systems Volume 8 Issue 1 June 2015 ISSN: 0947-6250 Print ©Copyright IJHTS ® Exclusive Marketing Rights: Publishing India Group