Tourism focus for Vibrant Gujarat II

Even before the debate on whether the last Vibrant Gujarat project brought any new investments to the state could die down, the Gujarat government has lined up a sequel this winter.

The state government, along with the Industrial Extension Bureau and the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat (TCGL) plans to have a second Vibrant Gujarat in October, with focus on the unexploited tourism sector. The state has already issued advertisements in the media to attract investors.

"We are planning to sell Gujarat a major tourism destination to non-residents Indians (NRIs), non-residents Gujaratis (NRGs) and domestic and international tourists this Navratri. The government hopes to tap the potential in the tourism sector in the state. Our focus is to bring Gujarat in the international tourism map of the world," said a senior official of the state government.

The focus of the meet will be to promote, eco-tourism, medi-tourism, beach-tourism, and religious tourism.

"Gujarat has few of the best beaches in the world. If we develop the required infrastructure, the state will have a great tourism potential. To promote eco-tourism, we are developing Nal Sarovar and plan to develop an eco-tourism project at Gandhinagar. We are also promoting Dwarka as religious tourism destination. Medi-tourism is coming up in big way and we offer world class facilities at a fifth of costs for similar facilities abroad," said a senior official of TCGL, which is the co-ordinating agency for the event.

The major components of the eco zone at Nal are a nature park, an eco resort, an ornamental fish farm and aquarium and an education, interpretation and research institution.

Nal would also have an entertainment zone for visitors, offering eco friendly recreational avenues like boating, angling and camping on the fringes, animal rides.

The area would be well landscaped with gardens and forest area. The zone would have a tourist village with accommodation and entertainment facilities. The entertainment zone would be located away from the eco zone to maintain the serenity of eco zone.

The government will also promote the Dinosaur Fossil Park at Balasinore, the corporate retreat cum golf course at Hazira, the tourist corridor at Jamnagar and Junagarh and tourist area development project at Kutch.