Gujarat Tourism lures the investors in Maharashtra by introducing new tourism policy

To promote investment in Gujarat Tourism Industry, Government of Gujarat held investors meet to apprise investors on recently announced Tourism Policy. The new Tourism Policy will be into effect till 31st March 2020. With this new Tourism Policy, it is for the first time that Tourism sector has been granted status of an Industry and with this initiative, tourism sector will now get all the benefits that an industry gets. The new tourism policy will provide investment opportunities in Eco Tourism Projects, Beach Tourism and Water Sports Projects, Heritage Tourism Projects, International Buddhist Circuit, Wayside Amenities / Cafeteria, Cleanliness Projects and Greenfield Properties for development. Gujarat Tourism is also taking initiatives like PPP in Tourism Projects, Special Tourist Police and annual recognition through Excellence Awards in Tourism Industry.

The new Tourism Policy will provide many incentives and concessions such as Capital Subsidy, Interest Subsidy, Registration / Stamp Duty Concession, Exemption from Luxury Tax, Exemption from Entertainment Tax, Exemption from Electricity Duty, Support for Sustainable Tourism, Special Package for Mega Tourism Units, Incentive for Promotion of Innovation, Support for Marketing and Promotion, Incentives for Skill Development, Incentives for ICT Enablement, Assistance for Research in the Tourism / Hospitality Industry. All new units which commence commercial operations during the policy period and existing Tourism Unit taking up expansion of more than fifty percent of its existing capacities will be eligible for these incentives under new policy.

Commenting on this major initiative, Shri Saurabhbhai Patel, Hon’ble Minister of Tourism, Govt. of Gujarat said, “The new Tourism Policy will position Gujarat as a Vibrant tourist destination, with an emphasis on improving visitor experience, livelihood linkages, environmental concerns and enhancing investment opportunities, thus catapulting tourism as one of the most important economic drivers, leading to sustainable development and inclusive growth in the state.“

Shri Kamlesh Patel, Chairman of Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd. said, “Our objective is to make Gujarat one amongst the top five tourist states of India in terms of local, national and international tourist footfalls by 2025. We want to unlock the immense untapped/under tapped potential of tourism in the state. The new Tourism Policy will create an investment-friendly framework and suitably ensure access to requisite tourist infrastructural facilities.”

Adding to it, Shri N. Srivastava, Tourism Commissioner & Managing Director, Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd. said, “In 2014-15 the total tourist arrivals in the State was 326.91 lacs which was 13.5% higher than the previous year. Annually the domestic tourism growth rate nationally is 9.6%. Ahmedabad, Ambaji, Dwarka, Surat and Vadodara continue to remain top-draw destinations. These five destinations account for over 41% of gross tourist flow to Gujarat. The major iconic festivals of Gujarat which has put Gujarat on the world tourism map are: Navratri, Rann-Utsav and International Kite Festival. The State Government focus on Tourism can be gauzed from the fact that the tourism budget has grown exponentially from a mere Rs.100 cores in 2006 to over Rs.500 Crores currently.”

Hon’ble Tourism Minister Shri Saurabhbhai Patel, also announced that a series of road shows planned within and outside the state for promoting the Tourism Policy 2015-20 and also the initiatives taken by Tourism Department to invite private participation in the Tourism Sector in Gujarat.

The Road shows are planned in Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata and Hyderabad in the next two months’ time. The first road show was held at Mumbai. The invitees included Hotel Operators/Owners, Real Estate Developers, Tour Operators, Amusement Park/Water Park Developers, Golf Course Developers, Adventure Sports Operators, etc.

Investment opportunities in tourism sector
A) Eco Tourism Projects will be promoted as both tourism activity and a product in close collaboration with Forest Department and Climate Change Department at the following locations: Polo Forest, Padam Dungari, Little Rann of Kutch, Thol, Nalsarovar, Khijadiya Vansda, Ratanmahal, Jessore, Jambughoda.
B) Beach Tourism – Water Sports: Adventure Sports like parasailing, yatching, motor boating and water skiing will be suitably developed and promoted in the State in collaboration with national and international operators at Shivrajpur, Kutch Mandvi, Ahmedpur Mandvi, Madhopur Porbandar Tithal, Dwarka, Okha.
C) Heritage Tourism: Conservation and beautification of important monuments in identified tourism circuits and special tourism areas in consultation with ASI/State Archaeological Department at the following locations: Dholavira, Lothal, Champaner, Rani ki Vav, Adalaj Vav, Lakhpat, Junagadh Fort, Modhera
D) International Buddhist Circuit sites have been identified across the State at the following locations: Buddhist Monastery, Vadnagar, Buddhist Monastery, Taranga Hills, Buddhist Destination, DevniMori, Buddhist Caves, Talaja Hills, Buddhist Caves, Prabhas Patan ,Baba Pyare Caves, Junagadh Khapra Kodia Caves, Junagadh Uperkot Caves, Junagadh Ashoka Edicts, Junagadh, Sana Caves, Amreli, Buddhist Caves, Khambalida, Siyot Caves, Kutch
E) Khushboo Gujarat Ki Locations: Government intends to facilitate private investment in the following locations: Gir, Somnath, Dwarka, Lothal, Dholavira, Gandhi Circuit, Kutch, Archaeological sites- Modhera, Rani Ki Vav, Buddhist circuit, Siddhpur, Saputara, Ambaji, Ahmedabad circuit, Velavadar Sanctuary, Birding sites in Gujarat, Little Rann of Kutch, Champaner, Udwada
F) Properties under bidding for management operations
1. Wayside Amenities / Cafeteria for management operation Malvan (Surendranagar), Siddhpur (Patan), Harshadmata (Porbandar), Hansalpur (Ahmedabad) and Sikka (Jamnagar)
2. Greenfield Properties for development under DBFOT under Bidding are Kutch – Mandvi, Chorwad
3. Boating Facility under bidding for operation in Saputara Lake
G) Properties for which RFP would be invited in 2 months
1. Greenfield Properties for development under DBFOT to be covered are Saputara, Veraval, Tithal Pavagadh, Enjal
2. Wayside Amenities along major highways
H) Any other locations across Gujarat as per Tourism Policy.
I) Cleanliness project
32 locations have been identified in Dwarka, Ambaji, Saputara, Pavagadh, Somanth, Porbandar, Dholavria, Rani-ki-Vav, Adalaj, Siddhpur, Chotila, etc.

Upcoming major tourism festivals in Gujarat:
• Rann Utsav- 18th November 2015 to 29th February 2016
• Saputara Paragliding Festival- 1st November 2015 to 31st January 2016
• International Kite Festival- 8th to 14th January 2016
• International Gujarat Travel Mart- 19th to 21st February 2016

sourced:traveldailynews.asia