Rajasthan Plans Year-Round Tourism Like Dubai

Udaipur: Rajasthan, known for its vibrant tourism industry, is aiming to follow Dubai's example by keeping its tourism doors open year-round. While tourism in Rajasthan peaks from September to March, the government plans to promote night tourism and enhance accessibility during the summer months when tourist footfall typically decreases.

Deputy Chief Minister and Tourism Minister, Dimple Kumari, who hails from the Jaipur royal family, met with Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, in New Delhi recently to discuss boosting tourism in the state. During their meeting, Kumari pushed for better preservation of historical sites and the development of new tourism initiatives, including frontier tourism, tribal tourism, and rural tourism.

Kumari also emphasized the need for the preservation of historic havelis in the Shekhawati region, famous for its unique architecture, which could attract more international visitors. She submitted a memorandum to Shekhawat outlining various demands for the state's tourism development.

Interestingly, Shekhawat, who represents the Jodhpur constituency, has a vested interest in promoting Rajasthan’s tourism sector. Jodhpur, known as the gateway to the Thar Desert, is a major hub for art, culture, and handicrafts and is rapidly becoming a prime destination for destination weddings. With a focus on enhancing connectivity, Shekhawat is working to improve air services to cities like Jodhpur, Udaipur, and Jaisalmer.

Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and Tourism Minister Kumari are keen to leverage Shekhawat’s position as the central minister for culture and tourism to bring more benefits to Rajasthan. The government plans to accelerate these efforts, with Shekhawat offering his full support.

As the state looks to boost tourism, it faces challenges in maintaining seamless travel, particularly due to reduced flight services during the summer months. Rajasthan has several small airports that could offer regional flights to support tourism growth. 

In line with this vision, Rajasthan is also looking to enhance its infrastructure, with new airports and improved rail and road services. Central Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s efforts to improve connectivity have already boosted religious tourism, especially to key pilgrimage sites.

The state is also exploring the development of tourism corridors at major religious destinations, similar to Kashi and Ujjain, to further drive growth in the sector. The collaboration between the central and state governments is expected to open new avenues for the tourism industry.