State Showcase

Gujarat declares 2006 as year for tourism

Reema Sisodia - Mumbai

Gujarat Tourism Development Corporation Limited, the main body for tourism promotion in the state, has formulated concrete plans to market, promote and project Gujarat as a tourism state in the international circuit. The state has also declared the year 2006 as the year for tourism. Special circuits and zones have been identified to be marketed and promoted amongst the international clientele. According to a source from Gujarat Tourism, "Packages have been formulated keeping in view the demand and the requirements of the foreign tourists. We are strongly focusing on international business, hence we would be actively participating in international travel and trade events. Kutch has been identified as the most prominent region for tourism promotion. The Kutch belt, in all its splendours, namely, culture, arts and crafts, natural beauty, etc would be focused in the marketing endeavours. It would be promoted in the international circuit, as research has revealed that Kutch has generated interest amongst the foreigners."

Round the year events that would comprise of festivals, Utsavs, etc, would be held across various regions in the state. The tourism board would be marketing these festivals both in the national as well as the international market. Few festivals have already been held since the month of January 2006. Amongst the prominent festivals that would be highlighted would be Navratri festival in Ahmedabad, Sharad Utsav in Kutch, Rann Festival near the Little Rann of Kutch, Tarnetar Fair, Kite festival, etc.

For the first time ever, the state has developed a new circuit called the Gandhi circuit.

Religious tourism is yet another area where the state would be concentrating on.