Tourist footfall in Gujarat jumps by 17%; over 1.35 Cr visited the state during summer vacation

Gandhinagar: Gujarat Tourism is creating a buzz and witnessing a consistent surge in popularity among both domestic and international visitors.  Between April 1 and June 10, 2024, (the period of summer vacation), Gujarat’s 12 tourist attractions, and pilgrimage sites welcomed over 1.35 crore tourists. This marks a 17 % increase from 2023 when 1.14 crore tourists had visited these destinations during the same period.

Popular attractions in Gujarat such as the Statue of Unity (SoU), Atal Bridge, Riverfront-Flower Park, Kankaria Lake, Somnath Temple, Ambaji Temple, Pavagadh Temple, Dwarika Temple, Science City-Ahmedabad, Vadnagar, Gir and Devalia Safari, as well as the Ahmedabad Metro Railway, attracted a large number of visitors.

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Historic City Ahmedabad Emerges as Top Destination for Tourists

Ahmedabad, renowned for its rich cultural heritage and long history remained the top choice among tourists visiting the state of Gujarat to feel the essence of Gujarat (‘Khushbu Gujarat Ki’). In the fiscal year 2023-24, Ahmedabad followed by Banaskantha and Gir Somnath emerged as the three most popular districts among tourists.

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₹2077 Crore Fiscal Support for Tourism Development in 2024-25

The government has implemented several initiatives to boost Gujarat tourism which has the potential to generate new employment opportunities. For the year 2024-25, the government allocated ₹2077 crore to develop tourist destinations, bolster the key infrastructure at religious and cultural sites, adventure sports, and eco-tourism projects.

Hosting G20 Events Propelled Gujarat Tourist Destinations on World Stage

A number of G-20 engagements were hosted in the state of Gujarat during India’s Presidency of G20 in 2023. The Gujarat government showcased state’s rich culture and heritage among the G-20 representatives by successfully convening the G-20 events at Gujarat’s top destinations such as Dhordo of Kutch and the Statue of Unity. G-20 delegates visited attractions such as Dholavira, Modhera Sun Temple, Ahmedabad’s historical sites, GIFT City, and Dandi Kutir, and expressed their immense appreciation. The visits are assumed to have left a lasting impression and played a role in bringing them back to Gujarat.