Gujarat Saw Over 1.35 Crore Tourists During The Summer

This year, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of tourists in various regions. In Himachal Pradesh, over 74 lakh tourists visited the state by May, marking a 3.5% increase from last year. Jammu and Kashmir has seen a remarkable 300% annual rise in foreign visitors. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha credited the proactive policies and incentives provided by the local administration for this tourism boom at the 'J&K Tourism Development Conclave'. Now Gujarat too has joined the list. The state experienced a surge in tourist footfall, with a 17% increase in the number of tourists visiting famous destinations in the state during the summer.

Crunching The Numbers

Over 1.35 crore tourists visited 12 prominent attractions and pilgrimage sites in Gujarat from April 1 to June 10 this year compared to 1.14 crore tourists during the same period in 2023. Key tourist spots included the Statue of Unity, Atal Bridge, Riverfront-Flower Park, Kankaria Lake, Somnath Temple, Ambaji Temple, Pavagadh Temple, Dwarkadhish Temple, Science City in Ahmedabad, Vadnagar, Gir and Devalia Safari Parks, and Ahmedabad Metro Railway. In the financial year 2023-24, Ahmedabad district and city emerged as top tourist destinations. Ahmedabad district welcomed 4.26 crore visitors, and the city, India's first UNESCO World Heritage City, attracted 2.25 crore tourists.

After Ahmedabad city, Ambaji Temple recorded 1.64 crore visitors, Somnath Temple saw 97.93 lakh, Dwarkadhish Temple 83.54 lakh, Kankaria Lake 79.67 lakh, Pavagadh 76.66 lakh, Surat city 62.32 lakh, Sabarmati Riverfront 44.46 lakh, Statue of Unity 43.53 lakh, and Dakor town 34.22 lakh visitors.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has led the development of numerous infrastructure facilities in Gujarat to enhance the state's tourism sector. This has attracted a large number of tourists interested in experiencing Gujarat's beauty and diversity. The government has allocated Rs 2,077 crore in the state Budget 2024-25 to develop tourist spots, religious and cultural destinations, adventure spots, and eco-tourism, as part of their efforts to boost the tourism sector in Gujarat.

Destinations And The G20

Gujarat hosted a series of G20 meetings, choosing Dhordo in Kutch and the Statue of Unity in Narmada district as venues for some events. This was important for showcasing the state's rich heritage to G20 representatives. The delegates also visited tourist attractions such as Dholavira, Modhera Sun Temple, Ahmedabad's historical heritage, Gift City, and Dandi Kutir in Gandhinagar. According to the release, the G20 delegates also toured attractions like Dholavira, Modhera Sun Temple, Ahmedabad's historical heritage, Gift City, and Dandi Kutir in Gandhinagar.

Travel On The Rise

The travel market in India has been on the rise in recent years. In April 2024, the travel website MakeMyTrip published a report on the preferences of Indian tourists planning their next adventures, both domestically and internationally.  Drawing data from over 100 million active users, the agency's inaugural "India Travel Trends Report" revealed a 25 per cent increase in the number of people taking more than three trips per year in 2023 compared to 2019. According to reports, summer travel this year went up by 40 per cent. Read more about it here.