'Election tourism' to be an added attraction in Gujarat

, Nov 29: The Gujarat

this year is important not only from political point of view but also an economic one. International tourists visiting the state this winter can witness how the people of the world's largest democracy celebrate its biggest festival, i.e., election.

Tourism experts, who term the concept as 'election tourism', said it first gained prominence at the World Tourism Mart (WTM) held in London earlier this month and has been a success. As part of the election tourism, foreign tourists, who will be in Gujarat during the election time, will meet prominent leaders from both the main contending parties, the Congress and BJP, and interact with them to understand how popular representatives get elected in India.

Sources in Gujarat Tourism Development Society (GTDS) said the popular tourist spots in the state have been clubbed with various assembly constituencies to cater to the tourists' interest. It was learnt that confirmations were received from countries like Egypt, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Ukraine and Germany who had taken part in the WTM.

Several international tourists visit Gujarat for Rann Mahotsav in Kutch in December and this time, the two-phased election has become an added attraction for them. Gujarat will go to polls on Dec 13 and 17 while the results will be declared on Dec 20.

GTDS authorities said they had requested the visitors to bring their plan to visit Gujarat by a week so that they could witness the biggest festival of democracy.

OneIndia News