The Gujarat Government on September 27 announced a new tourism policy for 2015-2020 with focus on making the State one among the top five tourist destination states in India by 2025.
The policy would be effective from the date of notification till March 2020.
Releasing the policy on September 27, the state Tourism Minister, Saurabh Patel, announced the government's decision to grant an "Industry" status to the tourism sector in the State. In order to boost entrepreneurship in tourism sector and make it attractive for investments, a series of tax relaxations were also announced.
The government has announced 100 per cent reimbursement on stamp duty, while exemption has been given for luxury tax, entertainment tax and electricity duty. The minister also announced capital subsidy for tourism sector.
Investments of over ₹50 crore will get admissible subsidy of 15 per cent with a maximum limit of ₹10 crore.
In the policy document, the State Government quoted World Travel and Tourism Council data projecting total investment potential in Gujarat to the tune of $4 billion (approx ₹26,000 crore) by 2025 with an employment potential of 3 million people and 5 per cent contribution to GDP.
With the latest policy, the government aims to attract MICE segment (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions), encourage innovative forms of tourism such as adventure, cruise, event-based, inlannd waterways, medical among others.
The government also aims to provide tourism infrastructure in terms of tourist information, transport services, accommodation and way-side amenities, with enhanced use of ICT in the sector and create enabling framework for public-private partnerships in developing tourism products, projects and services.
"Apart from being an effective facilitator, the State Government shall be leading from the front in matters like Destination Development, Promotion of Fairs and Festivals, Publicity Campaigns, IT Initiatives, Market Research, Exhibition and Seminars, Skill Development Etc," the policy document read.