Ahmedabad, April 17: Gujarat witnessed a significant influx of tourists to its heritage sites last year, with over 3.695 million domestic and international visitors exploring 18 historically important locations across the state. As per agency report, the state government released this data on Thursday, highlighting the growing popularity of Gujarat’s cultural and architectural heritage.
According to an official release, more than 1.288 million of these tourists visited four UNESCO World Heritage Sites, providing a boost to the local economy and generating employment opportunities in surrounding areas.
Ahmedabad, India’s first UNESCO-recognized heritage city, attracted over 715,000 visitors in 2024. The intricately carved stepwell Rani Ki Vav in Patan drew 364,000 tourists, while the ancient Harappan site of Dholavira in Kutch saw over 160,000 visitors. Meanwhile, the historical site of Champaner in Panchmahal district welcomed around 47,000 tourists.
These four locations have been honored with UNESCO World Heritage status due to their exceptional architectural designs, historical significance, innovative water management systems, and urban planning concepts. Champaner and the nearby Pavagadh region were granted the designation in 2004.
The release further stated that under Gujarat’s Heritage Tourism Policy 2020-25, the state is actively developing historical buildings, palaces, and forts located in villages and towns into fully functional tourism destinations. The policy aims to preserve the region’s rich legacy while promoting sustainable tourism development.
