Gujarat expects over 6 crore tourists to visit this fiscal year

Buoyed by increasing tourist footfalls and development of various destinations in state, Gujarat is expecting tourist inflow to cross six crores in current fiscal year, an official said on Saturday.

western state which is "focusing on attracting foreign tourists" will come out with a herit tourism policy soon, official ded.

"In 2016-17, tourists' inflow was 4.48 crore and same went up to almost 5.8 crores in 2018-19. annual growth of rate was 14 percent. With trend of increasing tourists footfalls, we are expecting that tourist inflow should cross six crores in current fiscal," said Jenu Devan, Commissioner of State Tourism Department.

Chandrayaan 2: Former ISRO Chief Dr. K Kasturirangan Calls Chandrayaan 2 'India's Most Ambitious Launch Yet' As ISRO Starts Countdown To Launch

He said tourism sector contributes about three percent of state's gross domestic product and its contribution is expected to "improve" in years to come. Over Rs 12,500 crore was invested in sector in last four years to improve infrastructure for sector, he said:

" state is preparing a herit tourism policy and approval for this will come shortly. At present, re are 33 herit properties. With implementation of policy, more such properties will come within tourism map," Devan said.

Elaborating on tourism potential and emerging destinations, State Tourism Minister Jawahar Chavda said Gujarat is "a rich place" in terms of its ecomy, nature and culture. " state offers mountains to desert and sea beach," he said.

"Apart from neighbouring states such as Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Mhya Presh, West Bengal is an important for Gujarat tourism as over seven lakh visitors travel to western state every year," Chavda said on sidelines of a roshow here on Saturday evening.

RE: ' Chinese Incursion' Assures Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat, Even As Congress Pounces At Demchok Reports

In Gujarat, two prominent tourist sites - Somnath and Dholavira - would be developed into iconic tourism destinations as a part of Central government's Swesh Darshan Scheme, Devan said, ding that "big packs" are going to come for se two sites to woo visitors. minister said state is focusing on attracting foreign tourists, which currently comprises roughly one percent of annual inflow of travellers.

"NRI comprise about 2-3 per cent of annual tourist inflow in state. In dition, about six lakh foreign tourists visit state last year. We should be able to attract one lakh more foreign tourists this year. We will do ro shows in overseas in order to attract tourists from foreign countries," Devan said.

Among tourists coming to state from overseas countries, UK, US and Italy are at top of list, he said. Around 20-25 lakh tourists visited Statue of Unity, Devan said, ding that aver tourists' footfall is 7000-8000 in weekdays while same for weekend rises up to 15,000.

Statue of Unity, built at a cost of Rs 2,389 crore is a 182-meter high memorial to Sardar Patel in Keviya in Narma district. It is tallest structure of its kind in world and was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 31 last year. 

RE: SBI Managing Director Anshula Kant Appointed MD And CFO Of World Bank