ITB Berlin News #3

I REGION I ASIA I
Gujarat tourism up 14%
in 2019
Jenu Devan is Commissioner of Tourism for the
Government of Gujarat & Managing Director, Tourism
Corporation of Gujarat Limited. We asked him how
tourism is progressing in Gujarat.
The total tourist flow reached the
figure of 57.5 million in 2018-19
with a 14% rise as compared to
the previous year. We have tried to
put in our best to give international
travellers many reasons to visit
Gujarat and experience the best of
our hospitality.
The 182m tall “Statue of Unity” in
Gujarat has been featured by Time
magazine in its second annual list
of the 2019 World's greatest places,
a compilation of 100 new and
newly "noteworthy destinations
to experience right now". It is the
world's tallest statue, and is a
tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Meanwhile, Ahmedabad has
been declared India’s first
World Heritage City by UNESCO
recognising its heritage value. The
city is known for its architectural
marvels of Pol structures and other
beautiful tourist locations.
What are your key aims when it
comes to promoting tourism for
your region?
We are currently targeting
international travellers in big way
with such amazing and variety of
tourism products. Besides Africa,
Gir in Gujarat is the only place in
the world where you can spot lions
roaming free in the wild. Recently,
India’s first dedicated Dinosaur
Museum and Fossil Park was
inaugurated at Raiyoli village near
Balasinor town. It is globally known
to be the third largest fossil site
and the second largest dinosaur
hatchery from where about 10,000
dinosaur eggs have been found.
Gujarat is not only the birth place
of Mohandas Gandhi, popularly
known as Mahatma Gandhi,
but has also been the site of
many important activities of
the much-revered Indian patriot
and politician. Today, the state
government has developed a
Gandhi Tourism Circuit that lets
tourists follow the life of Mahatma
Jenu Devan
Commissioner of Tourism,
Government of Gujarat & Managing
Director, Tourism Corporation of
Gujarat Limited
ITB BERLIN NEWS • THURSDAY 19 TH MARCH 2020 • 37