Gujarat Tourism bags three National Awards 

“Khushboo Gujarat Ki” featuring Amitabh Bachchan gets best tourist film honour

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Gujarat Minister Shri Saurabhbhai Patel received awards from President of India

New Delhi: Gujarat Tourism has bagged three National Tourism Awards for best tourism film, innovative use of information and technology and one of the best States for comprehensive development of tourism in the country. 

Gujarat Government’s star tourism campaign, “Khushboo Gujarat Ki” featuring megastar Amitabh Bachchan was decorated with the prestigious National Tourism Award 2011-12 in the category of Award of Excellence- Best Tourism Film. Gujarat Tourism Minister  Shri Saurabhbhai Patel and Shri Sanjay Kaul, MD, TCGL today received the awards from President Pranab Mukherjee at the National Tourism Awards 2011-12 function held here. 

Gujarat was adjudged the third best state in Comprehensive Development of Tourism while Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited also received the award for Most Innovative use of Information Technology. 

Gujarat Tourism has launched “Khushboo Gujarat Ki” (fragrance of Gujarat) campaign with Shri Amitabh Bachchan as its brand ambassador, to promote various tourist destinations and to uphold rich culture and tradition of Gujarat. The promotional campaign has immensely contributed to the huge tourist influx to Gujarat with an increase of 54 lakhs visitors in last two years. Through “Khushboo Gujarat Ki” campaign Gujarat Tourism has been successful in marketing key destinations of the State. 

Gujarat Tourism has adopted multi-pronged strategy to promote some of the world class tourist destinations in the state. Firstly, by creating common infrastructure like excellent connectivity by roads and trains, security apparatus in place, information centres, sanitation and other facilities to ensure adequate safety and comfort of the tourists. Secondly and most importantly, to focus on the PPP mode to rope in the private sector to come and invest in Gujarat by setting up commercial ventures like hotels and resorts. 

Gujarat is fast emerging as a popular tourist destination with Lonely Planet voting Gujarat as one of the 10 most unsung places in the world. Recently, Gujarat has won two coveted awards-- Best Tourism Board by CNBC Travel Awards-2012 and Runners up award for best emerging destination in India by Conde Nast Traveller, India.