State earmarks Rs 350 crore for infra, tourism development

The Gujarat Government has earmarked Rs 350 crore this year for infrastructure and development of tourism in the state.

“We have earmarked around Rs 350 crore this year for infrastructure and tourism development. Our aim is make Gujarat a leading global tourist destination,” Gujarat Tourism Managing Director and Commissioner Anoop Shukla told reporters here on Friday.

The state, which has roped in Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan to promote tourism, has developed Saputara as a modern hill station at an investment of Rs 150 crore to attract both domestic and foreign travellers.

“Saputara has undergone a phenomenal infrastructure transformation which would attract both domestic and foreign tourists in the coming days,” he said. Shukla said foreign tourist arrival in Gujarat has gone up significantly in the first six months of the year as compared to the same period in 2009.

“The inflow of foreign tourists has increased by at least 40 per cent during the six months. We hope the number will increase further in the remaining period as the state witnesses more festivals and tourism functions.”

The state hopes that a chunk of foreigners coming to watch the October Commonwealth Game would also visit Gujarat, he said.