Only two projects of 2003 meet fructified

While the Gujarat government has lined up another round of Vibrant Gujarat this year to attract investments in the tourism sector, only two of the 26 projects proposed for investment in last year's meet have materialised so far.

The tourism sector was highlighted as one of the major sectors for investments in 'Vibrant Gujarat, Global Investment Meet-2003'.

The investment opportunities in tourism was stated to be over $1,124 million in 26 projects. However, investors have shown interest in only few of the projects. Only around 10 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) have been signed and only two projects have materialised.

"The two projects which materialised include the Rs 260 crore Nal Sarovar Eco Tourism Project and the Rs 260 crore Special Entertainment Zone at Surat. The Nal Sarovar project is bagged by an NRI, while the project to develop the special entertainment zone at Surat was bagged by the Delhi-based Bharat Hotels.

The work has commenced on both the projects and is expected to be complete in the next two years," said a senior official of the state government.

The Surat zone will be spread across 250-1000 acres on the coastal belt from Surat to Navsari. It is being developed with all basic infrastructure facilities. Top hotels and resorts, miniature structures (for film shooting), entertainment centres, leisure parks, food courts and souvenir shops, health spas, oceanariums are expected to be developed.

"Development of an eco-tourism project conserving the eco systems is planned at Nal Sarovar. Apart from providing an exclusive destination for eco tourism, the developed eco systems would serve as a demonstration centre for ecology conservation and for promoting awareness among people about nature and natural systems," said the official.