Sea of sand dunes spreaded over miles, high & beautiful mountain ranges, beautiful lakes and ponds, changing dialect at every ten miles and the diverse and colourful cultural heritage gives a special recognition to Rajasthan on the national and international tourism map. The custom of Rajasthan to receive visitors warmly makes tourists visit this state of sand dunes again and again. It is an incredible destination and every third tourist who visits India does not want to miss the chance to visit Rajasthan.
The far sighting vision of Chief Minister Shri Ashok Gehlot and his determination has filled new colours on the big canvass of Rajasthan and new inscription has been written in the tourism sector under his able leadership. The state has received various awards on national and international level due to the development made in the tourism sector. The schemes initiated by the State and the schemes sponsored by the Centre has given Rajasthan recognition as the front runner state. The fairs and adventure tourism, religious tourism, splendid palaces, majestic forts and carved havelis are the big tourist attraction.
To develop tourism sector in the State 27 centrally sponsored schemes of worth Rs. 11150.97 lakh have been sanctioned from 2009-10 to 2011-12. The projects including Ranthambhore Reserve Eco Tourism Circuit, development works of Golf Course Jaipur, Dholpur destination tourism circuit, Hotel Management Institute to be set up in Jaipur by RTDC, Desert Circuit Mega Tourism Project (Jaisalmer-Jodhpur-Barmer-Bikaner), Gorwar Circuit (Pali-Jalore-Sirohi), Sariska Tiger Reserve Destination Project, Matsaya Circuit (Viratnagar-Jaipur & Alwar), Food Craft Institute in Sumerpur-Pali, project for development of 7 way-site facilities in Bundi and development works of Shekhawati Tourism Circuit-II have been sent to the Tourism Ministry, Govt. of India.
In the year 2011-12 the works being put on priority by the tourism department, Govt. of India under centrally sponsored schemes are Mega Torism Project- Jaipur, Sound and Light Show in Ranakpur and projects related to basic infrastructure development and development of tourist places are being prepared to be sent to the Govt. of India. The work for projects of Flood Light Circuit, Hawa Mahal, Jantar-Mantar Phase-1, Amber Fort Phase-1, Elephant Village-Amer Phase-1 and Gagaron Fort Phase-1 has been completed. The light and sound show has been started at Kumbhalgarh fort.
To promote rural tourism in the State the developmental works in 8 villages of 7 districts were completed of worth Rs. 375 lakh. In the year 2011-12 development works in 12 villages of 12 districts of worth Rs. 600 lakh and in the year 2012-13 development works in 7 villages of 7 districts of worth Rs. 350 lakh are being taken up. To encourage investment in tourism sector the time limit for Rajasthan Tourism Unit Policy has been increased till March 2013. Under the Policy the government land is being allotted to tourism units in rural areas on local DLC rates. The Revenue department has issued orders to give powers to district collectors for land conversion of up to 10 hectare land for Tourism Unit same on the line of Agro Processing Units. 814 projects of tourism units have been sanctioned.
For the organization of special festivals and fairs at religious places and to provide security and facilities to pilgrims the State Government has constituted State Level Mela Authority. Rajasthan is front runner in train tourism. On the line of Palace of Wheels tourism train ‘Royal Rajasthan on Wheels’ has been started on January 11, 2009 with the help of Railway Ministry, Govt. of India.
The Great Indian Travel Mart was successfully organised in the year 2009,2010 and 2011 which is the Pan India Travel Mart organised by any State of the country. Hot Air Baloon Utsav in 2010 in Pushkar fair, International Kite Festival in Udaipur in January 2011 and Rajasthan Diwas Samaroh 2012 were the events of attraction. Rajasthan Calling Programmes and road show were organised by the tourism department of Rajasthan in 2010-11 in 19 cities of country in which RTDC, State Handloom and RUDA participated and showcased the products. In 2011-12 such event were organised in 7 major cities of the country.
Rajasthan has received many national and international awards for its achievements in tourism. The State was awarded Conde Nast Readers Travel Award in 2010, Favourite India State Award in 2010, Best Tourism Destination Awareness Award during India Travel Mart in New Delhi and Best Decorated Stand Award in Hyderabad. In best publicity for promotion of tourism by states category Rajasthan received National Tourism Award in the year 2011 and Conde Nast Traveller Award in 2011. The Udaipur city was given most tourism friendly city award by CNBC Awaz award. The stalls of Rajasthan have received best decorated stand awards in various travel marts.
Thus Rajasthan is moving ahead in the tourism sector with the positive thinking and successful schemes implemented.
With this all sector of Rajsthan business will be benefited with the growth of Rajasthan Tourism said by a tourist to IT Voice Reporter
