Minister of State for Tourism and Culture (IC) Shri Prahlad Singh Patel and Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Vijay Rupani inaugurated the two day meet on Destination Management and Community Participation, in Gujarat. The meeting has been arranged by the Ministries of Tourism and Culture in collaboration with the Government of Gujarat at Rann of Kutch in Gujarat.

Shri Prahlad Singh Patel said in the meeting that Kutch has come out as distinctive tourist destination in Gujarat. Development of destination not only helps in the growth of the tourism industry but also upholds local culture, traditions & community. Shri Patel also pointed out that the Government of India is giving importance to develop Dholavera as one of the top destinations.

The Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Vijay Rupani greeted all dignitaries and referred to 2001 earthquake in which Kutch region was fully devastated. But, with the visualization of Prime Minister of India, the region of Kutch (White Rann), with its distinctive geography, culture and heritage has been distorted into a main tourist attraction. According to Shri Rupani, this would be a model case study for destination management. He conveyed his immense pleasure that Dholavera and Somnath have been choosed for development under Iconic destination development scheme of Government of India.

The Tourism Minister, Government of Gujarat Shri Jawahar Chavda talked about about different tourist attractions in the state like wildlife, spirituality, nature, places linked with Gandhi’s life and World Tallest statue – the statue of Unity.

In the inaugural event, an MOU was signed between Government of Gujarat and ITDC for on condition that consultancy towards modern and attractive lightings & illumination at different monuments and Sound & Light show at various locations in the state of Gujarat.

In this event, there were speaker sessions by government officials, tourism industry, private sector entrepreneurs, etc. showcasing best practices / case studies from various States & Union Territories in the related field. The meeting served in understanding the concepts & frameworks, approaches, challenges faced in execution and impact caused by such ideas on the society & the overall economy. 

The event emphasized on benefits to local communities by way of conveying skill sets needed for prudent hospitality industry and cross-cultural learning exchanges to develop employability of the local people. Socio-economic benefits for the society could be facilitated by making them lead the development proposals. Challenges & issues associated to Destination Management such as complete planning, community involvement, carrying capability, etc. was conversed in the meeting.