NEW GLOBAL INDIAN
Travel with Gujarat for a Journey of Lifetime
Written by Kintu Gadhvi Saturday, 05 November 2011 05:17
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Jay Narayan Vyas, the current Cabinet Minister in BJP ministry of Gujarat state of India. He is minister in charge of Tourism & devsthan pilgrimage and also takes care of health & family welfare, development, co-ordination of voluntary organizations, non resident Gujarati division. He is a post graduate in civil engineering from IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) Mumbai and also holds post graduate qualifications in marketing management and a degree in Law.
Under his leadership, he planned out the month-long Rann Utsav (Desert Festival) in Kutch district which has given a boost to the tourism industry in Gujarat. There has been 70 per cent increase in the tourist arrivals, which was a result of aggressive campaign. The ad campaign by Gujarat Tourism brand ambassador Amitabh Bachchan was also a major factor in the growth of the sector.
They are also regulating the tourism future plans, his department has identified places like Pavagarh in Vadodara and Saputarain Dangs for developing adventure sports like para-gliding. Pavagarh and Saputara are ideal destinations for para-gliding. Also highlighted the religious importance of Dangs district which has places like Shabri Dham and Anjali Kund,both associated with the Ramayana.
Excerpts from an interview :
What steps are being done to promote Gujarat as an important tourist destination for the global tourists?
After the first phase of branding by Amitabh Bachchan we are getting worldwide response from tourists. Currently major tourist destinations are overflowed with the expansion of hotel industries. We have also expanded the capacity in the hotels which comes under state tourism.
What incentive is being given to the NRIs to invest in Gujarat?
I think incentive is trivial thing for NRIs. Facility is more important than incentive. Before 15 years, Gujarat has limited resources to develop tourism. Today table has turned. For NRIs we have good infrastructure. Any unknown NRI tourist can easily access the places of Gujarat through tourism website. State tourism has categorized various tourists aspect like Chains of Buddha in Gujarat, Eco tourism, Marine or coastal areas etc.
The state has drawn up an ambitious plan to attract investments of 48,000 crore in the tourism sector by 2020. Could you please outline the radical features of the plan?
The state has the potential to attract investment to the tune of Rs 48,000 crore in tourism sector as per 'BIG Vision 2020,' and to make it a reality, the State Government has formed Gujarat Tourism Project Development Company Limited (GTPDCL).The State had celebrated 2010 as Tourism Year and to achieve the vision of tourism development the state government aimed at undertaking project development for about 50 projects in the range of Rs. 10 crore to Rs. 200 crore each by GTPDCL. Stating that private sector was expected to invest about Rs 45,000 crore in the tourism industry in Gujarat, Rs 18,000 crore of the total investment was expected in the next two to three years.
Among the various tourism sectors including Business tourism, Spiritual tourism, Medical Tourism, Heritage tourism, recreational and Eco tourism which sector do you think offers the best potentialities in Gujarat?
In all the ways of tourism, Gujarat can lead in the country. See, of course the whole world knows Gujarat as a business capital of the nation. Today many leading organizations of Automobiles are striving to pace with state's development growth. We have long and deep history of heritage from ancient civilization to Buddhism and later kingdoms of Gujarat. Even for Eco tourism Gir forest, Saputara, Velavadar etc are having the major potentiality for tourist. Here has been 70 per cent increase in the tourist arrivals, which was a result of aggressive campaign Rann Utsav, earlier it was held for only three days but this year, for the first time Rann Utsav was celebrated for one full month. It has acted as an accelerator for the tourism industry.
You may forget religious tourism which is also a strong point of Gujarat. Recently the Gujarat government organized Saputara Monsoon Festival. How was the response?
Here, response was tremendous. Saputara is the only hill station. Since many years major Gujaratis preferred to travel towards Mount Abu. But as State Government has focused over Saputara , Gujaratis are enjoying Monsoon Festival at Saputara and Ranotsav at the desert of Kutch. Like Kite Festival, Monsoon Festival is becoming a one of the icon of Gujarat Tourism.
The Central government has launched a sustained Save Tiger campaign. Do you think that something similar should be launched to save the Asiatic Lions which are found only in the Gir forest of Gujarat in the whole world?
You wouldn't believe. According to recent census of lion, Gujarat has 405 lions. Due to State Government's serious effort of conservation, we have positive and strong figure of Asiatic lions that has increased from 359 to 405.
There was a proposal to develop shark watching in the high seas of Chorwad, Veraval and Dunni Port near Dwarka. What is the status?
In Marine tourism locals are taking interest and enjoying the marine creatures. But in future to woo tourists to coastal Gujarat, the state is planning to introduce an Australian concept in which expert spotters and air planes will be used to locate whale sharks in the sea.
What is being done by your government to project Gujarat as Global healthcare destination?
Gujarat has potential to provide best medical services with the help of major corporate hospitals. Even citizens including US, UK, and many European countries are regularly taking services from the multi specialist doctors of Gujarat. People all around the world are appreciating Gujarat in the medical services like Cardiac surgery, Dental treatent, Knee replacement. For wellness and Ayurvedic treatments are widely known in the globe.
