According to Rajasthan Tourism Minister Vishvendra Singh, the Rajasthan government plans to rebuild 23 disused airstrips through a public-private partnership so that chartered and smaller planes may land. Singh also serves in the state government as the minister in charge of civil aviation.

He urged all attendees at the G20 Tourism Expo in Jaipur, which was held at a luxury heritage hotel, to return as “ambassadors of Rajasthan tourism.”

“Under the guidance and leadership of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, we are planning to put out 23 old airstrips on a PPT (public-private partnership mode) where chartered flights linkage can be provided directly,” Singh said.

Using Kishangarh airport as an example, he stated that since the airport’s opening, a large number of passengers had been diverted from the main airport. As a result, individuals travelling to Ajmer or for ‘ziyarat’ are using Kishangarh airport, according to the minister.

When queried about the status of this plan, he stated that it was in the pipeline and will be completed soon.

“We plan to give these airstrips on a PPP mode, so investment will be from the private sector. And, we (state) will take a certain percentage of the landing and taking off charges. So, it will enhance connectivity,” Singh told PTI.

When asked if these 23 airstrips had been identified, he stated that they are all the existing ones, even those from the colonial era or built by former monarchs.

In response to another question, he stated that the arrangement should allow chartered planes and smaller flights to land at these airstrips.

The day-long G20 tourist Expo was hosted by the Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with the Rajasthan tourism department and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) at the Rambagh Palace hotel of the Taj group.

In his speech, the Tourism Minister also stated that “tourism” does not belong to any party, whether the Congress or the BJP, and requested that any funds sent from the Centre to the state be delivered as soon as possible.

Singh stated that the new Rajasthan rural tourism programme, which was approved a few months ago, contains several components that many states want to copy.

The Rajasthan Cabinet adopted the Rajasthan Rural Tourism Scheme, 2022, in November, with the goal of increasing rural tourism and creating jobs.

By developing rural guest rooms, agricultural tourist units, camping grounds, and caravan parks, this strategy will create jobs in the communities while also protecting the handicrafts sector.

At the same time, the scheme will acquaint domestic and foreign tourists with Rajasthan’s rural culture.
“This rural tourism policy will generate a lot of employment, put focus on our folklore, rural landscape, wildlife, cultural and heritage sites there, and religious sites, beyond the oft-talked about sites,” Singh said.

Delegates from G20 member countries such as Italy, Turkey, Australia, and Germany also attended the gathering. Chang Jae-bok, South Korea’s Ambassador to India, was also in attendance.

The G20 Tourism Expo is taking place with the 12th edition of the Great Indian Travel Bazaar (GITB). GITB, one of India’s largest inbound tourism events, is co-organized by the Ministry of Tourism, the Department of Tourism, the government of Rajasthan, and FICCI.

The occasion was attended by Rajasthan Chief Secretary Usha Sharma, Chairman of Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation Dharmendra Singh Rathore, Rajasthan Tourism Secretary Gayatri Rathore, and Union Tourism Secretary Arvind Singh.

The chief secretary also discussed the role of the forest department in encouraging tourism. There is a leopard sanctuary in Jaipur, she said.

“And, there are several destinations that we are trying to develop either as a leopard sanctuary or a tiger sanctuary, so, we have added two in Jaipur, we are adding one in Bundi, adding one in Jhalawar, one in Karauli, Udaipur. So, now realising the potential of tourism and how it generates employment, we are also entering into this area. We are trying to make Rajasthan as a capital for big cats,” Sharma said.

Sharma, a co-founder of the GITB, whose first edition was conducted in 2008 and the current 12th edition is being held after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 epidemic, said she was “impressed” with how the GITB has developed over the years.

She applauded Rajasthan’s film tourism programme, saying that so much of the state can be seen through films and even OTT-based web series.

The Rajasthan Tourism Department and the RTDC are working together to establish new standards and models.

Rajasthan tourism secretary spoke of the sector’s resurgence and how the G20 has provided much-needed impetus in her presentation at the exhibition, and she underlined it at the GITN event.

On the subject of heritage tourism, she reiterated at the expo that around 75% of heritage hotels in India are situated in Rajasthan, and many of these structures have been repaired and utilised, attracting tourists.
According to Union Tourism Secretary Singh, over one lakh G20 participants would visit India this year. He added that the third Tourism Working Group meeting, scheduled for Srinagar, will be crucial since the “communique” that will be issued following the G20 ministerial summit in Goa will be concluded in Srinagar.

According to Singh, with India’s increasing economy, the country’s tourism sector, which currently stands at USD 150 billion, would increase to USD 1 trillion in the next 20-25 years.

During India’s G20 leadership this year, he aims to promote green tourism, introduce up to 50 new tourism locations, and conduct a PR campaign in international markets.

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