Rajasthan to develop 3 tourist circuits

Buoyed by the tremendous increase in the tourist inflow to the state, Rajasthan will improve facilities in important tourist destinations.

"The tourism department is developing three important tourist circuits, Haudauti, Jaipur and Pushkar, for making them more attractive and to provide all amenities and comforts to tourists," Rajasthan Tourism Minister Usha Punia said.

The state government has sanctioned Rs 14.63 crore for the development of these circuits, she said, adding the Centre had granted Rs 22 crore for the development of religious circuits like Braj Bhoomi, Mewar and Bagad.

During the Resurgent Rajasthan Conclave in December, 25 memoranda of understanding worth Rs 5,000 crore were signed with investors for setting up luxury hotels and of them five letters of intent had already been received, Punia added.

The minister added that apart from focusing on important tourist centres like Jodhpur, Udaipur, Mt Abu, Jaisalmer, Ajmer, Sawai Madhopur, Chittorgarh and Bikaner, the department would also develop new circuits.

All 14 airstrips in the state were being modernised and work to provide international status to Udaipur airport had been taken up, she said.

Though the emphasis will be on heritage tourism, novel sectors like medical tourism and adventure tourism will also be developed to attract foreign tourists to the desert state.

Punia said the state government had strengthened the tourist police force to deal with the growing incidents of misbehaviour with women.

Tourist police force has been deployed in important tourist spots for providing protection and assisting the state police, she added.