look news india
Ahmedabad, 14 October (Hindustan Reporter). Due to the development work done for tourism and travel destinations in the last several years, Gujarat is shining on the world tourism map today. The number of tourists in the state has increased 22 times in two decades. Along with this, the state tourism department
The budget of the Tourism Department has increased from Rs 12 crore in the budget year 2001-02 to Rs 1620.06 crore in the year 2024-25.
The Gujarat government is celebrating Development Week from October 7 to 15 to mark Narendra Modi's completion of 23 years as the Chief Minister of the state and Prime Minister of the country. Today Gujarat has become a favorite state for tourists from all over the world. In the year 2003-04, only 61.5 lakh tourists came to the state, whose number crossed 14 crore in the year 2022-23. These include more than 22 lakh foreign tourists.
Ranotsav, kite festival etc. festivals got world class popularity
Narendra Modi understood the importance of White Rann (Desert) in Kutch from tourism point of view and started 'Ranotsav' in the year 2005. Ranotsav, which started as just a three-day festival, has today transformed into a four-month long event. International Kite Festival was started to attract people from India and abroad towards the festival of Uttarayan in Gujarat. Kankaria Carnival is celebrated every year since 2009 at the Kankaria Pond Complex in Ahmedabad. Apart from this, the number of tourists has also increased due to the Tana-Riri Mahotsav in the memory of the sisters of Vadnagar, the latter Mahotsav to enhance the Indian dance culture in the Sun Temple complex at Modhera, while the organization of Vibrant Gujarat Navratri Mahotsav has increased the Navratri of Gujarat. The festival and Garba have become famous globally.
'Statue of Unity' center of attraction
To pay tribute to the Iron Man Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the creator of united India, with the vision of the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi, the world's tallest statue 'Statue of Unity' (SOU), 182 meters tall, has been constructed in Kevadiya of Narmada district in Gujarat. . Various tourist attractions including Jungle Safari Park, Children Nutrition Park, Arogya Forest, Valley of Flowers, Ekta Mall, Ekta Nursery, Miyawaki Forest and Maze Garden have been developed in the area around SOU. By constructing a railway station in Kevadiya, tourists have been provided easy connectivity for transportation. Kevadiya is being developed as Total Tourism Development by the State Government.
Smriti Van and Veer Bal Smarak
Smriti Van was created in Kutch in memory of the victims of the devastating earthquake of January 26, 2001. Apart from this, Veer Bal Smarak has been prepared outside Anjar city in the memory of the children and teachers who were buried under the debris in Anjar city during the Kutch earthquake. It was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the year 2022.
Tourism friendly policies implemented
With the objective of giving impetus to the tourism sector in Gujarat, 'Gujarat Tourism Policy' and 'Heritage Tourism Policy' were implemented with the objective of promoting the historical heritage buildings and sites of the state as heritage tourism destinations. With the aim of making the tourists from India and abroad aware of the culture and tradition of Gujarat and enjoying the taste of Gujarati cuisine, the state government has also implemented 'Gujarat Home Stay Policy'. This has created employment opportunities for the local people. To promote the rich tradition of handicrafts of Gujarat, a platform was provided for setting up stalls of handicraft products in various programs of the Tourism Department.
Tourist places get international honor
In the last 23 years, Ranki Vava (Queen's Stepwell) located in Patan, Dholavira, Ahmedabad city and Chapaner have been included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. United Nations agency World Tourism Organization has declared Dhordo village of Kutch as the 'Best Tourism Village'. UNESCO has included Garba of Gujarat in the list of 'Intangible Cultural Heritage'. Shivrajpur Beach located in Dwarka has been ranked among the 'Blue Flag Beaches'. Bhuj's Smriti Van Earthquake Memorial and Museum has been included in the list of 7 most beautiful museums of the world under UNESCO's Prix Versailles Award.
Development of pilgrimage sites
Asia's largest Girnar Ropeway was constructed at Girnar in Junagadh, which has made the darshan of Mataji accessible to the devotees, especially the senior citizens. 51 Shaktipeeths have been constructed in the world famous Yatradham Ambaji of Gujarat. Lakhs of devotees coming to visit Adyashakti Dham are now getting the benefit of darshan of all 51 Shaktipeeths together at one place. After 500 years, the flag has been hoisted on the golden peak at the newly constructed temple of Maa Kalika in Pavagadh. A circuit house with facilities for tourists has been constructed in the first Jyotirlinga Somnath Mahadev Temple located on the sea coast of Saurashtra. Under Prasad Yojana, many development works are being done for the facilities of the pilgrims in Somnath Dham. GSRTC has connected various travel destinations by introducing new types of services including sleeper coaches, AC coaches and top class luxury coaches for long distance travel. The work of installing solar rooftops is being done in various pilgrimage centers of the state.
Assistance of Rs 15 thousand to Sindhu Darshan Yatra travelers
To promote the 'Sindhu Darshan Yatra' which gives a glimpse of the unity of India's diverse culture, the state government is providing financial assistance of Rs 15,000 to the travelers of Gujarat going on the Sindhu Darshan Yatra. The state government has launched the Shravan Teerth Darshan Scheme to enable the senior citizens of Gujarat to visit pilgrimage sites.
