With a mission to unlock the immense under-tapped tourism potential and promote brand Gujarat as a leading tourist destination world over, the State Government on Sunday announced a fresh tourism policy (2015-2020) for next five years.
“We want to make Gujarat among the top five tourist States of India in terms of local, national and international tourist footfalls by 2025. Since the foundation of Gujarat State in 1960, it is for the first time that tourism sector has been granted the status of an industry. With this initiative, tourism sector will now get all the benefits that industry gets,” said Saurabh Patel, Gujarat’s Minister for Tourism.
Patel unveiled the new tourism policy at a conference ‘One Billion Tourist, One Billion Opportunities: Role of ICT in Tourism Promotion’ organised by Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industries (FICCI) to commemorate the World Tourism Day. On the occasion he said with the steady increase of tourists and pilgrims, tourism sector needs a more boost and for the purpose, there is a need to develop infrastructural and other facilities at tourist spots across Gujarat.
Considering the aspect the State Government has decided to provide capital subsidy for setting up new projects related to tourism, he said, adding, “Provisions have made for unique incentives for women entrepreneurs. We are aiming to create employment opportunities for over 20 lakh people by the year 2025 with reforms in skills and knowledge development. It will give greater encouragement for self-employment.”
Talking to The Pioneer, Gujarat’s secretary for tourism SJ Haider said that currently the State ranks eighth in terms of domestic tourist footfalls and 16th as far as arrival of international tourists compared to other States. During the year 2014-15, nearly 3 crore domestic and 2.25 lakh international tourists arrived in the State, said Haider.
The new policy gives emphasis on all segments of the society apart from facilitating senior citizens, the differently-abled, homemakers, farmers and students by ensuring affordable accommodation and travel circuits. It encourages the use of ICT in the sector to improve quality of service as well as aims to provide tourism infrastructure in terms of tourist information, transport services, accommodation and way-side amenities. This policy shall come into force with effect from the date of issuance of the policy GR and shall remain in force till March 31, 2020 or till the declaration of a new or revised policy, whichever is earlier.