Too Late, Too Slow? Gujarat’s Tourism Push Turns To Structural Fixes

Against this backdrop, the state government is actively considering separating the tourism function from the Industries and Mines Department and granting it a more powerful, independent administrative structure.

Despite having one of the widest tourism canvases in the country—ranging from heritage and wildlife to coastline and religious destinations—Gujarat continues to trail several other states. While the government allocates funds annually and attempts to attract private investment through multiple initiatives, the outcomes have fallen short of expectations.

A senior tourism department official said, “Tourism is currently linked with the Industries Department, but deliberations at the highest level and expert feedback have led to planning for the establishment of a Tourism Commissionerate. The move is expected to address structural inefficiencies that are slowing decision-making and execution.”

According to the Ministry of Tourism’s India Tourism Data Compendium 2025, Uttar Pradesh tops the list in domestic tourist visits, while Maharashtra leads in foreign tourist arrivals. Gujarat ranks sixth in domestic tourism, despite years of promotional campaigns and destination development efforts. However, the state performs relatively better in foreign tourism, securing the third position nationwide.

Officials acknowledge that despite efforts by the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited (TCGL) to enhance tourist facilities, policy-level bottlenecks have restricted development beyond marquee destinations such as the Rann of Kutch, Gir Forest, and the Statue of Unity. Most other tourist locations continue to suffer from inadequate amenities, poor last-mile connectivity, and weak destination management.

A TCGL official noted that attempts to delink tourism from the Industries and Mines Department have been underway for several years. The proposal gained renewed momentum during the recent Chintan Shibir, where the idea of establishing a dedicated Tourism Commissionerate was extensively discussed. The consensus was that an independent administrative framework would accelerate decision-making related to infrastructure creation, development of new tourist destinations, and overall visitor experience enhancement. The proposed restructuring would also enable long-term leasing and redevelopment of existing tourism properties, while simplifying policy formulation, budget allocation, project approvals, and implementation processes.