Gujarat has achieved the first position in India in terms of foreign tourists and the fifth position in terms of domestic tourists. According to the report, 8.59 million foreign tourists visited India in the year 2022. Out of which 1.78 million tourists visited Gujarat. the number of foreign tourists has been the highest in the country with 20.70%.
Similarly, in the year 2022, 1731.01 million domestic tourists visited various states of the country. Out of which 135.81 million tourists came to visit Gujarat, which means that Gujarat’s share in the number of domestic tourists is 7.85% in the country.
According to the tourism department of the state, there has been a significant growth in the tourism sector in Gujarat in the last few years. The Department of Tourism has developed multiple digital platforms for tourists visiting Gujarat by making maximum use of technology. As a part of which ATITHYAM portal type platform which is important through tourism has been developed. Gujarat has become the first state in the country to develop such a platform. The portal is a real-time dashboard to track the number of tourists arriving in Gujarat. It is an important platform to monitor the number of tourists across the state.
Details on the contribution of the tourism sector to the state’s GSDP and the purpose of its expenditure are also made available in the dashboard. A first of its kind initiative to digitize the number of tourists in the state, this platform has proved to be a milestone in the policy decisions taken towards increasing the convenience of tourists visiting Gujarat.
In order to increase the employment rate in Gujarat and increase the number of tourists gradually, various new measures have been taken by the state government according to the category of tourism. In the spiritual field, various religious sites like Dwarkadhish Temple, Ambaji Temple, Somnath Temple and Palitana Jain Temples have been developed for pilgrimage tourism. The Department of Tourism has further promoted Gujarat as a tourist destination through marketing campaigns, travel expos and participation in international events. In the infrastructure development sector, priority has been given to improving tourism infrastructure to make hotels and transport facilities more convenient for tourists.
Apart from this, the state’s rich cultural heritage, historical sites and traditional festivals in the heritage sector attract tourists interested in experiencing the state’s unique cultural opportunities. Champaner-Pavagarh development, Rani Vav, Surya Mandir, Modhera and the historic city of Ahmedabad have also been developed in a coordinated manner, resulting in an increase in the number of tourists in Gujarat.
Apart from this, the government has also focused on eco-tourism and wildlife development to attract nature lovers and wildlife lovers to places like Rann of Kutch, Gir National Park, Statue of Unity, which provide unparalleled opportunities to observe the diverse flora and fauna of the region. The development of Gujarat’s beaches like Shivrajpur, Dwarka, Mandvi and Somnath has gained great popularity in the tourism sector. Gujarat’s strong industrial base and multiple business opportunities have resulted in enhanced investment prospects. Apart from this, Gujarat has established a prominent name in event tourism. In which the number of tourists has increased for a certain period as a result of events like G-20, Navratri, International Kite Festival, Tanariri Festival and Ranotsav during the year. Not only this but for the development of tourism, Gujarat Government has provided a safe and secure environment to the tourists-investors along with appropriate tourism policies and incentives.
The government’s policy of preserving the state’s cultural heritage, enjoying its natural beauty and investing in modern infrastructure such as airport modernization, road network and accommodation options – as a result of various projects including homestays – has been successful in attracting tourists from all over the world, including India.