Panaji, March 2 (IANS): Maharashtra is keen to promote its tourism spots like the Ajanta and Ellora caves, Mahabaleshwar and beaches along the Konkan belt to woo Russian tourists, a senior Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) official has said.

Maharashtra's potential as a tourism destination has not been fully exploited vis-a-vis 2.05 lakh Russian tourists who visit India every year.

"A large number of tourists and businessmen from Russia visited Mumbai, but the tourism potential of our state for the Russian tourists has not been fully explored. For example, Ajanta and Ellora, hill resort of Mahabaleshwar and the beaches of Maharashtra," MTDC joint managing director Satish Soni was quoted as saying in a press statement here on Wednesday.

"We are ready to take up promotional tours of Russia, to begin exchange of students, to participate in exchange of information with various Russian regions," Soni said. 

As per the Goa-based Russian Information Centre, which issued the statement, Soni was speaking at the 'Indo-Russian Tourism Exchange' event held this week in Mumbai. 

Neighbouring Goa attracts a bulk of the Russian tourists who arrive in India. In 2014 alone, 1,89,486 Russians holidayed in Goa, one of the country's top tourist destinations known for its beaches and nightlife.