400 percent rise in tourists to Kachchh
New Delhi: The State of Gujarat today took another lead in being the first in the country to launch its star tourism campaign, ‘Khushboo Gujarat Ki’ featuring megastar Amitabh Bachchan, on a Delhi Metro Train in the national capital in an attempt to showcase diversity of Gujarat tourism in its entirety.
Shri Vipul Mittra, Principal Secretary Tourism, Government of Gujarat and Shri Sanjay Kaul, Commissioner of Tourism & Managing Director, Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd (TGCL) jointly flagged off the branded train at the Reliance New Delhi Metro Station today.
The Gujarat Tourism is branding one entire Delhi Metro Train for a period of three months to promote its ‘Khushboo Gujarat Ki’ campaign. The highlights of the campaign are branded in both the outer body and insides of the metro train.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Vipul Mitra said that no other state tourism board has roped in the services of the Delhi Metro so far as what Gujarat Tourism has done. By dedicating an entire Metro Train to its tourism campaign, the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd aims to seek better mileage in the national capital and tourist influx to Gujarat.
“Khushboo Gujarat Ki campaign is two and a half years old and since its launch with Shri Amitabh Bachchan as its brand ambassador, the rate of growth of tourism in Gujarat has doubled as compared to the national growth rate. There has been a 400 percent rise in tourists to Kachchh and this year more than 2 crore travellers are expected to visit the State,” Shri Mittra told media persons.
He pointed out that Gujarat Tourism works on a 3-pronged strategy with the first being promoting Gujarat as a fast emerging most exciting tourism destination. Secondly, by creating common infrastructure like excellent connectivity by roads and trains, security apparatus in place, information centres, sanitation and other facilities to ensure adequate safety and comfort of the tourists. Third and most importantly, to focus on the PPP mode to rope in the private sector to come and invest in Gujarat by setting up commercial ventures like hotels and resorts.
Talking about the USP of Gujarat Tourism, Shri Mitra said, “The USP of Gujarat Tourism is its diversity of tourism products. It is being promoted as a complete family destination, since in Gujarat there is practically everything to cater to the tastes of the tourists, whether it is mega events like Navratri or Rann Utsav, Asiatic Lions at Gir Sanctuary or the pristine beaches, remnants of Indus Valley civilization at Dholavira and the magnificent temples of Somanth and Dwarka. Be it monuments, temples or desert, Gujarat has it all.”
After excelling to new heights in infrastructure, agriculture and other development rated projects, the State Government brought in tourism as an icing on the cake, the senior official said adding Gujarat Tourism is a mode for development and means for diversity and prosperity.
Shri Sanjay Kaul, in his welcome address, said that it is essentially trade which is pushing Gujarat tourism the way it should be with trade associations and media continue to promote Gujarat as a preferred tourist destination.
The year 2012 has ushered in with international accolades coming for the State of Gujarat which has been ranked as the third best unsung tourist destination of the world by Lonely Planet.
