Delhi: Gujarat has become one of the top three Indian states in attracting foreign tourists. According to the Ministry of Tourism, Gujarat’s foreign tourist visits (FTVs) increased from 11,319 in 2021 to 1,777,215 in 2022 and reached 2,806,871 in 2023. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the Minister of Tourism shared information on FTVs across India in a written response to the Rajya Sabha on 22nd July.

Compared to other major states, Gujarat’s 2023 FTV figures are among the highest. Maharashtra led with 3,387,739 FTVs, followed by Rajasthan with 1,699,869. Gujarat ranks third, indicating successful tourism strategies and growing international interest.

The increase in Gujarat’s foreign tourist arrivals aligns with the broader national trend of tourism recovery post-pandemic. Domestic tourism in Gujarat has returned to pre-pandemic levels, with foreign arrivals expected to follow by 2024.

Here is a detailed breakdown of the foreign tourist visits in Gujarat and other states for the past three years:

Foreign Tourist Visits (FTVs) from 2021 to 2023

Moreover, the Gujarat government has engaged in the Swadesh Darshan Scheme to enhance tourism infrastructure. Notable projects include:

Heritage Circuit (2016-17): Development in Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Porbandar, Bardoli, and Dandi with Rs. 58.42 crore sanctioned, Rs. 56.21 crore released, and Rs. 55.67 crore utilized. Additionally, a second Heritage Circuit focused on Vadnagar and Modhera had Rs. 91.12 crore sanctioned, Rs. 87.25 crore released, and Rs. 85.63 crore utilized.

Buddhist Circuit (2017-18): Development across Junagadh, Gir Somnath, Bharuch, Kutch, Bhavnagar, Rajkot, and Mehsana with Rs. 26.68 crore sanctioned, Rs. 22.28 crore released, and Rs. 19.96 crore utilized.

Moreover, the Ministry has updated its Swadesh Darshan scheme to Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0) to create sustainable and responsible tourism destinations with a focus on both tourists and destinations. The destinations from Gujarat under this scheme include Dholavira and Dwarka.

List of Destinations Identified under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0)

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