18 pc rise in domestic tourists in Raj in 2016: Official

In 2016, Rajasthan witnessed 18 per cent rise in arrival of domestic tourists and a three per cent hike in those from foreign countries as compared to the previous year, officials said today.
The current trends in this year already indicate a quantum jump in the arrival of the tourists to the state. The new campaign is being credited for giving a fillip to the arrival of tourists," additional chief secretary toursim N C Goel said.
He said the state is now being promoted in a planned manner as a tourist destination.
"A marketing campaign was necessitated after it was realised that the tourist flow was stagnating owing to economic downturn, lesser variety of destinations as well as the entertainment facility in these destinations," he said in a release.

Furthermore, the tourist destinations had become crowded, there was stiff competition from the neighbouring states and weak infrastructure in certain pockets, he noted.
The officer said it was also realised that the urban Indian middle-class was willing to spend on experiences after which intense marketing activities were taken up to boost the tourism.
"The focus of promoting the state as a tourism destination is now through new concepts, identifying and developing new destinations, strengthening the infrastructure, encouraging private investment, increasing connectivity and an aggressive marketing campaign," he said.