PANJIM: If Gujarat was being proud for all its achievements and for being the reported role model of Bharat, check this out. Gujarat tourism, bowled over by water sports activities in Goa, has plans to replicate the adventure rides in its state as it has already begun talks with the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) and National water Sports Institute in Goa.
Commissioner of Tourism in Gujarat N Srivastava conceded that the state, that attracts on an average 3.3 crore tourists annually, needs to develop water sports in a bid to further boost tourist in its state.
“We want to start water sports activity on the lines of Goa, and on a much larger scale than Goa. For this, our officials are coordinating with the Goa tourism, NIO and NIWS,” he told a section of the media on Wednesday.
A team of Gujarat tourism officials led by Chairman of Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited Kamlesh Patel and Srivastava is in Goa to participate in a road show to showcase the state as a ‘must-go-place-for-tourism.’ The team also held exclusive travel meet with leading tour operators of Goa.
In yet another compliment to Goa, the IFS officer said that Gujarat’s beaches are not as impressive as the ones in Goa. “The state has a number of beaches but not as good as Goa. Some of the beaches in Goa are really good,” he commented. Srivastava went on mention that to encourage water sports activities, it was not necessary to restrict on the beaches alike in different countries across the globe.
He, however, had a piece of advise for the Goa Tourism to boost beach tourism like improving infrastructure.
“The beaches are good but a lot has to be done… Goa should invest more on infrastructure and also work towards offering a variety of activities to visitors on the beaches,” he stated as he also hinting at maintaining cleanliness along the Goa coast.
The Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited is contemplating tying up with Goa Tourism to draw a large chunk of tourists, particularly foreign nationals arriving in the State to subsequently travel to Gujarat.
“This initiative will also encourage Goans traveling to Gujarat. Besides tourists visiting Goa, we also want that Goan citizens plan their vacation in Gujarat,” Commissioner of Tourism in Gujarat N Srivastava said.
Having about 1,600 coastline, Gujarat receives 3.3 crore tourists annually of which 6-7 percent constitute foreigners. The state also aims at attracting Chinese and Japanese tourists by developing Buddhist monasteries.
“We are trying to develop Buddhist monasteries, especially where remains of Lord Buddha was found. It will attract people from China and Japan,” he said adding the State has a majority UK and USA nationals among foreign visitors.
Speaking about a whopping Rs 700 crore State budgetary provision allotted for the tourism sector in Gujarat this year, Patel claimed the Gujarat corporation has made a profit of over Rs 50 crore. He stated that besides tourism, the State is blessed with a number of investments in various sectors resulting into job opportunities for the youth.
