Press Release 19 – 22 January, 2012, Gandhinagar
Gujarat is fast emerging as an eco-tourism destination; boasting of a wide range of pristine and even hitherto unexplored destinations for avid nature lovers. It is known as land of warmth and hospitality. It is so pleasing that even the angels of nature – birds – feel this spirit and flock down from distant lands. The State hosts over 520 species of birds today, and has been attracting these wonderful creatures for decades.
Gujarat Tourism in partnership with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) is organising the Second Global Bird Watchers’ Conference 2012 from 19th to 22nd January 2012 at Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India. The 2nd Global Bird Watchers’ Conference, is an endeavor to not only showcase this strength of Gujarat; but importantly to also deliberate on how to preserve this wonderful gift of nature from the many threats posed by the modern world.
Encouraged by the overwhelming success of the First ever edition of the Global Bird Watchers’ Conference in November 2010 held at the wetlands of Khijadiya, near Jamnagar, Gujarat, it has been decided to organise the Second Conference at Gandhinagar. This will give the delegates an opportunity to explore Gujarat as a World Class Bird Watching Destination along with other attractions it has to offer.
The Conference is being held at a time when large numbers of migratory birds shall visit Gujarat. The Conference is expected to be attended by about 500 Bird Watchers, Ornithologists, Travel-writers, Photographers, Tour-Operators, Researchers and Academicians from across the Globe. There will be Interaction Sessions, Panel Discussions and field visits for the guests during these days.
The objective is to promote Gujarat as a special bird watching destination. The USP of the Conference would be the exclusive focus on capitalising on the locational and natural advantage of Gujarat and promotion of Tourism by exposing it to renowned National and International participants. The presence of Travel Media and Travel Writers would offer the desired momentum and branding to this Conference.
A website www.gbwc.org has also been created to provide all the locational and conference related details. Preliminary Registration has to be done through the website. Day 1 of the conference will be the inaugural session.
Day 2 and 3 will be for field trips as below:
1. Ahmedabad – Nalsarovar – Little Rann of Kutch (Bajana) – Thol – Ahmedabad (Overnight at Bajana)
2. Ahmedabad – Bhavnagar Coastal Wetlands – Velavadar – Ahmedabad (Overnight at Bhavnagar)
3. Ahmedabad – Tarapur Wetlands – Khambhat – Ahmedabad (Overnight at Khambhat)
The last Day 4 will be dedicated to experience sharing from the field trips and other interesting topics related to Birding.