Set up Tourism Authority

Ahmedabad, Aug 3: Even as it blasted the State Government, the tourism industry today asked for the formation of a Tourism Authority and ...

Ahmedabad, Aug 3: Even as it blasted the State Government, the tourism industry today asked for the formation of a Tourism Authority and rationalisation of taxes for overhauling the tourism industry in order to make Gujarat saleable to domestic and foreign tourists.

These demands were voiced at a seminar on 8220;Harnessing the Tourism Potential of Gujarat8221; in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. The seminar, initiated by the Government of India Tourism Office, was attended by tourism industry captains from the State and Secretary tourism, Government of Gujarat and also the Director General of Tourism, Government of India, Ashok Pradhan.

The sentiment that domestic tourists need to be given priority over foreign tourists was unanimous. Brainstorming was done on exploiting the tourism potential of the State through suggestions from representatives of the industry.

The State Government and successive past governments came under fire from the private sector for not giving due respect to the industry in the State. It was also suggested that tourism be removed from under the industry ministry and given an independent secretary.

8220;Gujarat is the only State with a 20 per cent luxury tax, the only State with prohibition, and the only State suffering from utter neglect and lack of funds,8221; said Jehangir Cama, president of Hotels and Restaurants Association of Gujarat. He said none of the benefits enjoyed by the industry were made available to the tourism industry, which was one of the fastest growing in the world.

Ram P Chopra, Regional Director of Tourism western and central India, said that tourism in Gujarat was a top priority for the office and an initiative was being taken to see that the private sector and the government work hand-in-hand.

8220;This great State has forts and palaces and also beaches; the potential for tourism is great,8221; he said.

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Managing director of the Gujarat Tourism Development Corporation V N Maira said the state needed to redefine its priorities and reduce the currently run 54 tourism packages. Admitting that the Corporation was overstaffed and had its shortcomings, he said, 8220;The GTDC will now focus on publicity and marketing. There will be alliances and MoUs with the private sector.8221;

Those who attended the seminar demanded that a single person be appointed as a link between the State Government, the Central Department of Tourism and the private sector of the industry in the State.

The Authority will need to have members from the tourism industry for better working 8220;and just political appointments won8217;t do8221;, said PATA vice-chairman O P Ahuja.

The speakers also called for a survey by experts of the state8217;s tourism potential.