The state tourism department nearly doubled expenditure on various festivals in 2017 as compared with the previous year, the assembly was informed on Monday. More than 90% of the expenditure incurred was on decoration and other expenses.
The state tourism minister said in the Assembly in a written reply that Tourism department spent Rs21.14 crore for promoting Kite Festival, Beach Festival, Rannotsav, and other festivals in the year 2016. "The expenditure on various festivals was Rs40.94 crore in 2017," the minister's reply said.
In both the years, the highest expenditure was on Navratri festival. The reply said that Rs6.92 crore were spent on Navratri festival in 2016, and Rs9.54 crore in 2017. The Kite Festival saw expenditure of Rs6.34 crore in 2016 and Rs7.57 crore in 2017.
The Kutch Rannotsav, which has emerged as one of the most popular tourist attractions in recent years, saw expenditure going up from Rs3.91 crore in 2016, to Rs5.27 crore in 2017.
From Rs45 lakh in 2016, the expenditure on Kevadia Monsoon Festival dipped to '0' in 2017, which could be attributed to water shortage. Polo festival, Gir Monsoon festival, Saputara Monsoon festival, Tarnetar fair, Seema Darshan, Gir Summer Festival, and Sabarmati Ashram centenary celebrations were some of the other festivals promoted by the tourism department. The minister's reply showed that Rs3.98 crore was spent for advertising the festivals, and Rs1.26 crore for hotel related expenses. Expenditure of Rs2.80 crore was incurred for vehicles and transportation, while Rs54.04 crore were spent on decoration and other expenses.
The number of foreign tourists at these festivals went up from 2,218 in 2016 to 2,722 in 2017.
The highest number of foreign tourists was at Navratri festival. The number was 926 in 2016 and rose to 1,207 in 2017. The Kite festival saw the participation of 701 foreign tourists in 2016 and 811 in 2017.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Navratri festival")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}