Tourism allocation up 3 fold

While the state is trying to market Gujarat as an important tourism destination across the world and planning to bring the state on the international tourism map, the government has allocated only Rs 35 crore for the tourism sector in the Budget for 2005-06, which is up over three fold from 10 crore last year but is still lower than the sums allocated by Maharashtra and Goa for 2003-04.

"It is necessary to utilise the full potential of tourism in Gujarat. The state government has been attracting capital investment to develop the state's archeological sites, beaches in the coastal areas and pilgrimage centres. Apart from developing tourist places, a provision of Rs 35 crore has been made in the Budget for developing event-based tourism on a priority basis by organising popular events such as Tarnetar, Navratri Mahotsav, International Kite Festival, Kutch Utsav etc. The health department will also implement special schemes for promoting medical tourism," said Vajubhai Vala, state finance minister.

Maharashtra's budgetary allocation had been enhanced to Rs 101 crore for 2003-04 from Rs 10 crore in the previous fiscal, over 10 fold growth. Out of the Rs 101 crore, Rs 55 crore is being pumped in the Ajanta Ellora Conservation Development Plan (AECDP).

Similarly, Goa government had granted a budgetary allocation of Rs 36 crore for 2003-04, in comparison with the previous year's budget of Rs 13 crore.

"The budgetary allocation for the next financial year has been enhanced to Rs 35 crore for the tourism sector, would be majorly used for promotional activities such as organising fairs and festivals among others. The government would be acting as a facilitator for the development of tourism infrastructures, which would be developed with the help of private parties only. Private parties have shown keen interest in developing tourism infrastructures in the state. We are still receiving expression of interest from private parties and the response has been encouraging. However, we can not give any concrete figure as of now as it is an ongoing process." Anil Patel, minister of state for industry and tourism, told Business Standard.