GANDHINAGAR: With an aim to promote Gujarat as tourist destinations, the fourth edition of the Vibrant Gujarat International Travel Mart was inaugurated here today at Mahatma Mandir here.
Chief Minister Anandiben Patel inaugurated the three-day event today in which travel professionals from 47 countries and 20 states of India participated.
“Through this Vibrant Gujarat International Travel Mart, we would like to show the various destinations within the state of Gujarat which are also very well recognized the world over. We want to promote this sector in a very fast way and hence we have kept this summit,” Gujarat Tourism Minister Saurabhbhai Patel said.
The travel mart brings together tour operators, hoteliers, airlines, destination management organization, medical service providers, IT companies. The focal point of the event will be the buyer-seller meet, B2C meetings and travel exposition.
This travel mart was initiated under the guidance and vision of the then honorable chief minister and the present Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2011. a senior state tourism department official said.
“Carrying forward this rich legacy under the current Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, the state government has embarked upon the flagship program of Jatisheel Gujarat for all-round sustainable development and inclusive growth of the state.
“Hence, the 4th edition of the travel mart also revolves around the same theme,” Principal Secretary (Tourism), Govt of Gujarat, S J Haider said.
A packed line of ministers and officials of the Gujarat Government and diplomats from Yemen, Malawi, UK, Canada were also present on the occasion.
The British Deputy High Commissioner, Ahmedabad, Geoff Wain also pitched for the inclusion of sustainable development in the tourism sector.
He said UK made up for 11 per cent of all foreign tourist arrival in India during 2014 and India tourists contributed 444 million pounds to their economy.
“What these broad statistics do not reflect however is that how many of these visits genuinely contributed to sustainable development. The World Tourism Organization defines sustainable tourism as the tourism that meets the need to current tourists while protecting and enhancing opportunity for the future. The UK has much to offer in terms of our experience in promoting sustainable tourism,” –PTI
