Noting that Gujarat's rich cultural heritage has the potential to make the state the world's top tourist destination, chief minister Narendra Modi has said he was aiming at bringing a substantial amount of tourist money in the region.
Inaugurating the 'Rannotsav', a three-day desert festival in the Rann of Kutch last evening, Modi said Gujarat will woo tourists with its own brand of tourism, without 'western gimmicks' like hotels and theme parks.
"The annual turnover of the international tourist industry is $7 trillion, more than four times India's national budget.
"And I want to bring in that money to Kutch and to Gujarat," he said while opening the festival on the banks of the Hamirasar Lake.
"We led the industrial revolution, the white revolution, now it's time for a cultural revolution.If a tourist goes to Agra, he would have nothing much to do after four hours. But if he comes to Gujarat, he will see sights he will not get to see anywhere else in the world," he said.
The initiatives are part of government's effort to make up for the lost years in the sphere of tourism, by wooing travellers to the state, which is known more as an industrial state.
The state government has invited foreign dignitaries, including the ambassadors of Peru, Venezuela and Spain to the festival.
Modi said the state does not have to ape the west for attracting tourists. "We don't need to follow the West, build fancy hotels and parks. We have plenty of cultural and natural beauty to attract tourists".
The Rannotsav will take place near Dhordor village, which lies on the Indo-Pak border. Some 400 tents have been put up for the visiting tourists and activities include a cultural event in the 'White Rann' (White Desert) by moonlight tonight which will be attended by Modi.
Image: Narendra Modi
