State signs MoUs to promote inter-state tourism

Himanshu Kaushik, TNN, Dec 8, 2010, 02.56am IST

AHMEDABAD: Next time if you want to drive down to the last abode of Asiatic lions in Junagadh and also visit the golden temple in Amritsar, there is no need to contact two tour operators. Gujarat tourism department is here to assist you to make arrangements for you even in Amritsar, Punjab.

The state tourism, to bring in tourists to Gujarat and to market its sight-seeing spots, has entered into a pact with Karnataka, Punjab and Rajasthan for inter-state tourism. The state is working on modalities to sign similar a deal with Goa tourism department too.

 

The tourism department has started selling north Gujarat with Rajasthan and is promoting Shamlaji, Kesariyaji, Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Haldighati, Nathdwara, Charbhuja, Ranakpura, Mount Abu in Rajasthan spots along with Ambaji, Kumbharia, Modhera and Bahucharaji.

Tourism secretary, Vipul Mitra, said the state has entered into memoranda of understanding with Rajasthan, Karnataka and Punjab, which has a large number of NRI visitors. "The MoUs will help towards mutual promotion of tourism, showcasing each others' cultural heritage to tourists and felicitating inbound travel into respective states," Mitra said. The states will mutually market their accommodation facilities and tourism packages.

Sources said that the next in the line is Goa where the state is planning to promote wildlife, religious and beach tourism. Officials said that Goa has pacts with five other states, including Meghalaya, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Karnataka and Sikkim. Manish Sharma, president of Gujarat Association of Tour Operators, said that signing the MoU is in the interest of the state. "Rajasthan has been promoting Gir and the effect is that schools from Rajasthan have visited Gir for watching Asiatic lions."

 

"We have been promoting Rajasthan and they have been offering joint packages along with Somnath and Dwarka apart from Gir. Around 20 to 22 per cent of the tourists who arrived in the state were through inter-state tourist operators," he added. Jayendrasinh Jadeja, member of GATO, said, "This should have begun much before. But the government did not pay attention. But now with chief minister Narendra Modi taking tourism seriously, the state is set to promote inter state-tourism, which is a good sign."

 

Courtsey via TOI

 

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