India is geared to become the third largest tourist economy in the world by the year 2028, as predicted by “The World Trade and Tourism Council” after studying the trend, GDP and other factors associated with the growth of tourism world-wide.
During the next ten years, India will make tremendous progress in attracting Western tourists who now flock other great tourist attractions like Thailand, Philippines, China and Dubai, a few among many destinations in Asia we cannot resist. India is not even in the top 10 nations, led by France, USA and Spain.
India already has wonderful beach resorts in Goa and Kerala, with its backwaters, unique in the world, which could be supplemented by Gujarat with Dieve, Daman, Somnath and Mandvi attracting beach lovers and the lion sanctuary in Gir Hills, near the city of Gunagadh, the only place in the world where Asiatic lions could be found roaming freely in the wild.
Besides Gir, Gujarat has many reserves and wild-life sanctuaries where wild ass in Kutch desert, spotted deer in Saurastra and more than ten bird sanctuaries where some 100 types of birds, both the permanent residents and seasonal migrating birds provide joy and satisfaction to bird watchers.
This type of tourism is on the rise where tourists come with their cameras, where during colonial time, Maharajas and British VIPs used to descend with their riffles and nearly wipe-out Gir lions. Thanks to Narendra Modi who created so many reserves and introduced laws to protect Gujarat’s forests and wild-life when he was the CM of Gujarat, the State has become one the top nature friendly green belt in Asia, with Gandhinagar the greenest city in Asia.
The whole of India is like a museum with historical places, natural beauties, Himalayas and Western Ghat Mountains with wonderful hill stations, palaces and religious attractions no other country could match. Rajasthan, Bhutan, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, the Venice of the East, Delhi and Agra with Red Fort and Taj Mahal are great attractions we should visit on our seasonal holidays to India, to escape our harsh and bitterly cold winter months, from November to March.
Bhupendra M. Gandhi
By email
