Tourism plays a big role in the Indian economy, with many benefits in its multiplier effects. The consumption demand that is a result of tourist expenditure brings in revenues and supports livelihoods, both directly and indirectly. Last year India saw a growth in tourist traffic of 9%. However, the growth in the amount international visitors spent in India was low at 3% when compared to China, which saw a growth of more than 8%. It is estimated that international tourist arrivals in India crossed the 7 million mark last year and is likely to hit 13 million by 2024. 7 % of the country’s GDP comes from this industry. It is evident how important tourism is to India and also the fact that there is much scope for improvement. Despite uncertainty in global economy and specific challenges to travel and tourism in 2015, globally, the sector grew by 3.1% contributing a total of 9.8% of the global GDP. It is forecasted that the tourism industry is expected to grow 4% annually over the next ten years. To maintain the competitive edge, every state needs to create new products, reinvent established products and have on offer an engaging and holistic experience that shall keep the visitor occupied and hopefully go back wanting for more. It is with this belief that CM Vasundhara Raje is progressing sequentially to revamp the tourism sector and its administration in Rajasthan, probably why her Government has increased the outlay of the tourism department in the Rajasthan Budget 2016.
We had recently told you about the Rajasthan Tourism’s new campaign launch that happened in the month of January this year. The campaign was widely well received and the ringtone went viral.
The Pink City is hosting the Grand Indian Travel Bazaar, an event that has emerged as an important B2B travel mart in the country and is showing significant and positive results for the participants, year after year. Over 10,000 pre-scheduled meetings between buyers and sellers have been confirmed which include over 275 foreign buyers from 51 countries.
Rajasthan Chief Minister, Vasundhara Raje inaugurated the 8th edition of the Great Indian Travel Bazaar (GITB) at Jaipur. A large number of foreign and domestic tour operators, travel agents and Indian vendors of tourism products were present on the occasion. In her address, CM Raje reiterated her Government’s commitment to taking the ‘Rajasthan Tourism Product’ far across the world through a multi-lingual, multi-modal and multi-faceted Rajasthan tourism campaign.
The Pink City welcomes all delegates of the Great Indian Travel Bazar – I wish everybody a fruitful #GITB 2016. pic.twitter.com/eKWubqHaiJ — Vasundhara Raje (@VasundharaBJP) April 17, 2016
For us in Rajasthan, Tourism is our best face to the world — understandably, our efforts in promoting this sector have been vigorous.
— Vasundhara Raje (@VasundharaBJP) April 17, 2016
We’ve signed 220 MoUs worth more than 10,000 Cr for setting up new Tourism Units that shall provide employment to more than 40000 youths.
— Vasundhara Raje (@VasundharaBJP) April 17, 2016
For the first time, Rajasthan has launched a Tourism Campaign that is multi modal and multi lingual.
— Vasundhara Raje (@VasundharaBJP) April 17, 2016
Our efforts in improving further road infra reflect our commitment to faster & safer travel, even to lesser-known destinations in the State.
— Vasundhara Raje (@VasundharaBJP) April 17, 2016
CM Raje extended a very warm welcome to all delegates and participants of the eighth edition of the Great Indian Travel Bazaar. She expressed delight on the fact that the GITB has grown to become a part of Jaipur’s calendar just in the manner JLF and Rajasthan Day celebrations have. It is noteworthy that GITB had moved out of the state after facing obliviousness from the previous Congress Government. It was because of CM Vasundhara Raje’s personal efforts that this event was brought back to Jaipur for its seventh edition.
In her address, CM Raje shared how well the Tourism Unit Policy 2015 has been received. In the build up to the Resurgent Rajasthan Partnership Summit and thereafter the Rajasthan Government has signed 220 MoUs worth more than Rs.10000 Crores for setting up new Tourism Units. The Government is also making relentless efforts for early translation of these MoUs on the ground since they are likely to provide employment to over 40,000 youths. Sharing her thoughts on connectivity, CM Raje said, “Infrastructure in terms of connectivity is vital to the tourism industry. Our efforts in improving further road infrastructure reflect our commitment to faster and safe travel, even to the lesser-known destinations in the state. Our active participation in the ‘Swachh Bharat Campaign’ is also aimed at removing squalor and visual pollution. Our law enforcement agencies are sensitive towards the need for security of visitors and any stray incident is acted upon swiftly.”
Raje also emphasized on the need to promote religious tourism. She shared how her Government was working on developing temple circuits in terms of tourist amenities, cleanliness and connectivity and assured the promotion of cultural and heritage tourism in the state. The Chief Minister talked on how arts and crafts have an organic connect with tourism. She added, “ We have been working on the betterment of artisans and providing them platforms to show their skills and wares. 2015 saw Jaipur being declared as a Crafts City by the World Crafts Council, which validates our efforts in improving aesthetics of the city while promoting the intellectual heritage of the state. You will also like to note that because of its magnificent depth of art and craft, UNESCO has selected Jaipur as a City of Crafts and Folk Arts.”
Chief Minister made a zealous appeal to the trade and industries members for taking the ‘Rajasthan Story’ to all nooks and corners of India and abroad. The campaign aims in bringing increasingly more domestic and foreign tourists to Rajasthan. New circuits and new events are being added to add value to the experience of the tourists. . To keep the visitor engaged in off-hours and even off-seasons, the Government has chalked an entire calendar of festivities scheduled. The various art, craft, music and literature festivals organized by the Government of Rajasthan have been widely well-received, especially in the younger citizen section. The Coke Studio Concert in Jaipur, in October, Music in the Park, the Naval Symphonic Orchestra, Sacred Music at Pushkar, World Music Festival in Udaipur, an International Photo Festival, Heritage Fashion Week are illustrious additions to the traditional list of events in Rajasthan and the Government has consciously expanded the event list keeping in view the need to cater to different tastes of different age groups.
Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje also expressed her gratitude to the Ministries of Culture and Tourism for strengthening and creating tourism infrastructure. She took the opportunity to request the Hon’ble Union Tourism Minister for his intervention in favor of improving air connectivity within the state. “Civil enclaves in Bikaner and Jaisalmer Airports are ready and it would be a shame to see the significant investments wasted”, she said.
Raje ended the address by stating how India’s growth lies in the States’ growth. “Our mission is not only to place Rajasthan as the most favoured destination in India but also to contribute to the national effort in positioning India as a favoured tourism country”’, she emphasized.
In a span of 8 years, GITB has gone from strength to strength and is now a force to reckon with in the inbound tourism marts. We hope that the event proves to be fruitful for the Tourism sector of the country and wish all delegates good luck.
