The Gujarat government in an attempt to make Gujarat a major tourism attraction has allotted Rs 350 crore for infrastructure and development of tourism in the state. "Our aim is to make Gujarat a leading global tourist destination," said Gujarat tourism Director and Commissioner, Anoop Shukla.
The state is undertaking various steps to promote the state as a major tourism destination. Gujarat’s tourism hotspot, Saputara hill station has been made more modernized at the total investment of Rs 150 crore to attract both, domestic and foreign travellers. "Saputara has undergone a phenomenal infrastructure transformation which would attract both domestic and foreign tourists in the days to come," Shukla added.
Gujarat tourism department is also organizing 'Global Bird Watcher' conference in Khijadiya, Jamnagar district, from November 25th in a bid to put Khijadia Bird Sanctuary on the global tourist map. "Khijadiya is the only place where freshwater and sea birds are found. It also receives about 250 species of birds every year," Shukla added.
Meanwhile, Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTA) in Gujarat has increased significantly in the first 6 months of the year as compared to the same period in 2009. The inflow of foreign tourists has increased by at least 40% during the 6 months.
