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Gujarat’s aggressive policy to develop the state as a tourism destination is only matched by the world’s strategy to woo the Gujarati tourist.

Gujarat government has earmarked 350 crore this year for infrastructure and development of tourism in the state.

Managing director and Commissioner Anoop Shukla of Gujarat Tourism says: “Our aim is to make Gujarat a leading global tourist destination.” The state, which has managed to rope in none other than Amitabh Bachchan to promote tourism, is now gearing up to develop Saputara as a modern hill station at an investment of 150 crore to attract both domestic and foreign travellers.

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The state has drawn up an ambitious plan to attract investments of 48,000 crore in the tourism sector by 2020. The plan has been prepared by Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board.

About 18,000 crore is estimated to be in over the next two to three years. The state government will spend 3,000 crore and the rest will come from the private sector.

The government has set up the Gujarat Tourism Project Development Company (GTPDCL) in collaboration with IL&FS. GTPDCL will undertake project development for about 50 projects that require investments between 10 to 200 crore.

Gujarat will announce a new tourism policy in October. It is expected to bring in a number of relaxations to boost tourism infrastructure development in the state, including development of tourism zones and simplified processes for clearances.

Top pullers
With the growth in industrialisation in Gujarat, business tourism has emerged as the top tourism segment.

According to Gujarat Tourism secretary, Vipul Mittra, “MICE is the new upcoming sector globally and Gujarat is also being promoted as a MICE destination. Working towards that, the Global Investor’s Summit 2011 would be held at Mahatma Mandir, which will be a world class convention centre. GTPDCL is also focusing on bringing public private partnerships for MICE.”

Religious Tourism
Corporate tourism is followed by religious tourism. CEO Ranjit Parmar of Palaces of India, Camps of India, Green Nature Trail Resorts, says, “Somnath, Dwaraka and Ambaji bring in a huge number of domestic tourists to Gujarat every year.

No wonder than the government is trying to give religious tourism a boost with the various projects like Sant Nagri and the Buddhist circuit.” Hill-top shrines like Ambaji, Palitana, Girnar and Pavagadh are similarly steeped in legend and celebrated in history.