Gujarat Welcomes Over 18.59 Crore Tourists in 2023-24
Significant Growth Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Leadership
Gujarat Tourism Minister Mulubhai Bera announced that more than 18.59 crore tourists visited Gujarat in the year 2023-24. This growth is attributed to the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has driven significant development in various sectors, including tourism, business, employment, spirituality, and industrial investment.
World Tourism Day
Every year on September 27, ‘World Tourism Day’ is celebrated globally. Under the guidance of then-Chief Minister and now Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gujarat has become a major attraction for tourists. Current Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel continues to promote Gujarat as a top destination for both domestic and international visitors.
Tourist Statistics
In 2023-24, Gujarat attracted over 18.59 crore tourists, including 17.50 crore domestic tourists and 23.43 lakh foreign tourists. Of these, 11.38 crore tourists visited for a day, while 7.21 crore stayed overnight. This marks a 24.07% increase compared to 2022-23, when 14.98 crore tourists visited the state.
Reasons for Visiting
Tourists visit Gujarat for various reasons, including religious, business, heritage, and leisure purposes. The state excels in religious tourism, with Ambaji attracting 1.65 crore devotees, Somnath Temple welcoming 97.93 lakh visitors, and Dwarka seeing 83.54 lakh visitors. Other popular spiritual sites include the Mahakali Temple at Pavagadh and Dakor.
Business and Leisure Tourism
Ahmedabad recorded the highest number of business tourists with over 2.26 crore visitors. Other cities like Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, and Bharuch also saw significant business tourism. For leisure, attractions like Kankaria Lakefront, Sabarmati Riverfront, and the Statue of Unity drew large crowds.
Heritage and Culture
Gujarat’s rich heritage attracted 22.49 lakh tourists to sites like Vadnagar, Kirti Mandir in Porbandar, Adalaj Stepwell, Rani ki Vav, and the Sun Temple in Modhera.
New Tourist Destinations
The Gujarat government has developed new tourist destinations, including Border Tourism at Nadabet, the Sea Border Viewing Project at Sir Creek, and the Dinosaur Fossil Park in Balasinor. Other projects include the Wetland Development Project at Mokarsagar, tourist facilities at Bet Dwarka, and the Greater Gir Development Project.
These efforts have led to a significant increase in tourism, boosting local employment and benefiting the citizens of Gujarat.
Doubts Revealed
Gujarat -: Gujarat is a state in western India, known for its rich culture, history, and beautiful places to visit.
Crore -: A crore is a unit in the Indian numbering system equal to ten million (10,000,000). So, 18.59 crore means 185.9 million.
Tourism Minister Mulubhai Bera -: Mulubhai Bera is the person in charge of tourism in Gujarat. He helps make plans to attract visitors to the state.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi -: Narendra Modi is the leader of India. He helps make important decisions for the country.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel -: Bhupendra Patel is the leader of the state of Gujarat. He helps make important decisions for the state.
Domestic and international tourists -: Domestic tourists are people from within India, and international tourists are people from other countries who visit India.
Religious tourism -: Religious tourism means visiting places that are important for religious reasons, like temples and churches.
Business tourism -: Business tourism means traveling to a place for work-related reasons, like meetings and conferences.
Heritage tourism -: Heritage tourism means visiting places that have historical and cultural importance, like old forts and palaces.
Leisure tourism -: Leisure tourism means traveling for fun and relaxation, like going to beaches or amusement parks.
Local employment -: Local employment means jobs for people who live in the area. Tourism can create many jobs for local people.