S J Haider (Principle Secretary) Gujarat Tourism

thenewsmanofindia.com (special story)
It all started with Khushbu Gujarat Ki in the beginning of 21st Century. Due to extensive and incessant efforts by the department of Tourism under the able headship of efficient officers Gujarat Tourism is now a preferred destination for discerning tourist. Gujarat Tourism provides comprehensive travel assistance and services to the tourists coming to visit Gujarat. Gujarat enjoys unique geographical features, longest shoreline with serene beaches, lush hill station, exotic wildlife, enchanting art forms, magical festivals and much more. All of which offers a unique experience to the visitors of this land. With such a background, tourism as an industry has immense potential which the state can tap to add to already flourishing economy of the state.

The effective development in infrastructure undertaken by the Corporation has helped the State to increase the number of tourists to Gujarat. The efforts in promoting infrastructure in keeping with the spirit of the state, its people and its natural environment have won the Corporation such prestigious awards. The state of Gujarat has been impressive with an achievement of an average annual growth rate of 10.4 % in the last five years, a figure that is higher than that of the “Asian Tigers”. Gujarat also contributes to 16% of the industrial production of the country and has also mobilised the highest share (12.7%) of the investments in the country. The state of Gujarat over the years has contributed towards being a large part of the India’s ever growing tourism arrival figures, both to within India destinations and overseas. Gujarat has been one of India’s biggest tourist attractions with its wide arena of attractions. Gujarat has to offer much as festivals of Gujarat, its beaches, the land of the Mahatma: Mahatma Gandhi oriented tours, Heritage Hotels, Buddhist Trails in Gujarat, wildlife Resorts and National Parks, Medical Tourism, Destination Management Companies, Travel Agents and Tour Operators, Religious Tourism, Handicrafts, Cultural Vistas, etc. The economic growth indicators of Gujarat have been impressive.

A bureaucrat who has been instrumental in Gujarat tourism incredible progress and growth is an adept, alert and innovative, SJ Haider, needs no introduction. Deft in handling his department, this 1991 batch IAS officer renders everyone speechless, with his amazingly ground breaking schemes and his power- packed presentations. In his earlier posting he is credited with much successfully organizing The 18th e-governance conference – he had organized at Gandhinagar was so impressive, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had, tweeted on it instantly. For Haider, who is presently Principle Secretary, Department of Tourism Govt. of Gujarat takes 8-10 meetings per day with not less than dozen officers in his room is no big news. Master of an unassuming nature, Haider does not wait for his Assistants to meet other bureaucrats. He has no qualms in meeting them personally in their offices and in all humility, he prefers to operate even the lift himself if need be, to move up or down to other offices. Haider is working on various tremendous plans for promoting Gujarat Tourism and marketing it to attract more global tourist. Haider has commendable team members in his department to keep the pace and spirit of making Gujarat Tourism as most preferred tourism state of the country. The incredible contribution of N. Srivastava (IFS) Commissioner of Tourism and Managing Director, M.S.Joshi, General Manager and K. Biswas Manager (Marketing & IT) makes it a promising and much progressing destination.