The state’s new tourism policy to be announced in two months will focus on developing Gujarat as the top tourism destination in India. The policy will also open doors for huge investments and put Gujarat on global tourist map.
Minister of tourism and health and family welfare, Jayanarayan Vyas, said this while speaking at ‘Gujarat Tourism Summit 2009’ organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on Sunday. “We will unveil the new tourism policy in two months. The new policy will aim to place Gujarat as a top tourist location in the world in five years. It will have the features which will meet the expectations of Gujarat tourist industry,” he said.
He said that the state government will invest Rs500 crore at Ambaji and Saputara in coming three-four years. Paragliding at Pavagadh and Saputara will be started to promote adventure tourism and in addition to that, wildlife and agro tourism will also be promoted.
“Rajasthan, Goa, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh nationally and Dubai, Singapore and Malaysia on an international level are the competitors of Gujarat in terms of tourist location. Government of Gujarat is planning to pump in around Rs172 crore in 2009 compared to Rs34 crore in 2005. We plan to reach 2nd rank in terms of hospitality in coming years,” said Kishor Rao D, former tourism secretary and director-general, Gujarat Establishment Golden Jubilee Secretariat.
Participants during the summit pointed out a few issues like establishing more budget hotels, creating special tourism zones, eco-tourism, theme-based tourism, rural tourism, developing night life, etc.
Ashwin Gandhi, chairman, CII’s Gujarat Tourism Summit 2009, said: “The government of Gujarat has taken CII as partner in tourism development and this summit is the beginning of a new horizon for Gujarat tourism.”
Speakers highlighted issues like creation of Gujarat Travel Mart, proper branding of the state tourism, creating awareness among the stakeholders on all tourism forums, creating more infrastructure through PPP model, rural heritage development, and special entertainment zones.
