Diya Kumari, Deputy Chief Minister and Tourism Minister of Rajasthan, is set to receive the Woman Tourism Minister of the Year award for India at ITB Berlin in Germany. At the same event, Rajasthan will also be recognised with the Patwa International Travel Award as the Destination of the Year for Royal Experiences.
Under the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari, the Tourism Department of Rajasthan strives to position the state as a global tourism hub. The Rajasthan government demonstrates a strong commitment to developing the tourism industry within the state. Aligned with the Central Government’s vision, the state has formulated a comprehensive action plan to enhance tourism in Rajasthan. Consequently, Rajasthan has been chosen as the Destination of the Year—Royal Experiences Award for 2024 by the Pacific Area Travel Writers Organisation (PATWA). This prestigious accolade will be conferred at ITB Berlin 2025 by PATWA.
Additionally, it is noteworthy that the Tourism Department regularly participates in the ITB Berlin Germany Mart. Last year, a team of delegates attended the mart and effectively showcased Rajasthan’s royal experiences and tourism offerings to travel agents from Germany and Europe. A special session was conducted at the Indian Embassy in Germany for European and German travel operators, where various facets of Rajasthan tourism were elaborated upon. This initiative garnered significant interest, with European tour operators expressing their keenness to increase tourist flows to Rajasthan.
The number of foreign tourists visiting Rajasthan in 2023 increased by 328.52%.
The Principal Secretary of Tourism, Gayatri Rathore, said that Rajasthan tourism is undergoing vigorous branding efforts domestically and internationally, spearheaded by the Honourable Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Tourism, Diya Kumari. Recently, the successful organisation of the Great Indian Travel Bazaar (GITB) in Jaipur has garnered enthusiastic responses from foreign tour operators. Furthermore, Rajasthan has effectively positioned itself as a premier wedding destination through Wed in India expo in Jaipur.
The Principal Secretary stated that ongoing initiatives are effectively positioning Rajasthan as the leading tourism destination. Due to these efforts, Rajasthan Tourism has significantly enhanced its participation in international travel expos and trade fairs, leading to a notable rise in foreign tourist arrivals. In 2023, the number of foreign tourists visiting the state surged by 328.52% compared to 2022.
The substantial influx of foreign tourists has highlighted Rajasthan’s global tourism significance. Concurrently, domestic tourist numbers surged by 65%. In 2023, Rajasthan welcomed a total of 18,07,51,794 tourists.
