In order to make the environment even more conducive for the tourism sector to grow and encourage private investments into the state, in a big move and the first in the country, Rajasthan has accorded industry status to travel, hospitality sectors.
This would mean that the Rajasthan tourism department will now be able to issue entitlement certificates to tourism units in order to grant industrial status benefits. The units in possession of this certificate would be able to get power at industrial prices, which are around 30% lower than commercial rates. Additionally, the UD tax on these units would be levied at industrial rates, which are 80% lower than commercial rates.
According to the state tourism department, since December 2018, a total of 802 tourism units have been sanctioned in the state, under which the state will receive an investment of INR 10,463.47 crore. These approved tourism units will generate employment opportunities for 40,785 people in the state, it said.
Dholera City project will give a significant boost to tourism and generate 200,000 jobs, shared Gujarat’s Secretary of Tourism, Devasthanam & Civil Aviation, Hareet Shukla, in a detailed interview with ETTravelworld. Besides the plans of developing tourism facilities in the city, he also discussed Gujarat’s potential as a MICE destination and acknowledged a 207 per cent rise in tourist footfalls between 2017 and 2022.
As many as 1,262 applications for entitlement certificates for industrial status have been received by the department, of which 859 have been issued, the department informed. Similarly, it said, 41 applications have been received under the Rural Tourism Scheme 2022, of which 35 certificates have been issued. So far 25 guest houses have been registered by the department in the state. The state operates about 850 home stays (paying guests) by combining old and new policies.
“The Rajasthan Tourism Department is currently focusing on identifying and developing new, lesser-known tourist destinations within the state as part of its new tourism policy, which is continually luring Investors to invest in the state and allows them to conduct all of their business through a single window rather than compelling them to visit various places,” said Dr. Rashmi Sharma, Director, Rajasthan Tourism Department, while sharing details on the tourism plan.
According to Sharma, in 2022, the Rajasthan Inquiry Committee was constituted that oversees 379 pilgrimages in the tourism industry. Of these, 55 have been completed and 149 are currently at various phases, she shared, adding, “This initiative will invest INR 14,679.63 crore in the state and create jobs for 60,687 people.”
The tourism units, eligible for certification under the scheme include: Hotel and Motel, Heritage Hotel, Budget Hotel, Restaurant or Cafeteria, Resort, Sports Resort, Health Resort Spa, Camping Site, Amusement Park, Animal Safari Park, Convention Center / Mice, Museum, Rope Way, tourist luxury coach, caravan and cruise tourism.
