Dholavira, the Indus Valley site on UNESCO World Heritage list, has finally been included in the Kutch Rann Utsav package as a tourist destination.
The Kutch Rann Utsav tent city packages will now span four days instead of the previous three. The decision to incorporate Dholavira is part of the government’s efforts to attract foreign tourists to the event.
Gujarat Tourism has been promoting state tourism under the slogan ‘Khushbu Gujarat Ki’ and has superstar Amitabh Bachchan as its ambassador. Kutch Rann Utsav has held a special place in the campaign, resulting in increased participation of tourists post-COVID. However, the low number of foreign tourists at the event has remained a concern for the government.
Despite substantial annual government expenditure on Kutch Rann Utsav, the number of foreign tourists at the event barely reached 500 for the period from 2020 to 2022. However, the local tourist numbers rose from 2.06 lakh to 2.99 lakh during the same period.
Amit Gupta, Public Relations Officer for Tent City, said Kutch Rann Utsav attracts millions of tourists every year. “For the first time, the state has included Dholavira as a new tourist attraction and so tourists visiting Kutch Rann Utsav can also get introduced to the Harappan Culture,” said Gupta.
He said other attractions include Dhordo, Kalo Dungar, and Mandvi. “This is why now the tourist packages have changed to four days.” Gupta said Kutch Ranotsav, which will be held from November 10 to February 25, 2024, attracts a large number of tourists, especially in December and January.
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