The ‘industry’ status accorded to the tourism and hospitality sector in Rajasthan earlier this year has given a sure and certain fillip to the State’s tourism units that had incurred huge losses during the pandemic. The power tariff and other taxes levied on tourism operators have now been brought on a par with other industries, against the much-higher commercial rates levied earlier.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had announced in his 2022-23 Budget speech in the State Assembly in February this year that the tourism and hospitality sector would be granted industry status. The concessions to the tourism sector as an ‘industry’ would bring a financial burden of Rs. 700 crore a year on the State exchequer, he said.
The Rajasthan domestic travel mart, which commenced here on Friday, dwelt on expanding the scope of tourism by highlighting the State’s culture.
Art and Culture Minister Bulaki Das Kalla inaugurated the mart.
Two documents pertaining to the State’s film tourism promotion policy-2022 and a memorandum of understanding with UNESCO on the intangible cultural heritage were released on the occasion.
Rajasthan Small Industries Corporation’s chairperson Rajiv Arora said that after the pandemic, a new trend relating to wellness and nature had emerged in the tourism sector. Chief Secretary Usha Sharma said the allocation of Rs. 1,000 crore to the tourism development fund would help support the infrastructure development as well as aid activities for publicity.
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