Tourism, Not Just an Industry but a Key Driver of Economic Growth & Jobs in Rajasthan: Principal Secretary at ‘Rising Rajasthan’ MoU Dialogue

Jaipur, Aug 2025 : A special investor dialogue session, ‘Rising Rajasthan: Tourism Sector MoUs Accelerating Groundbreaking Investments’, was held on Wednesday at Hotel Ghoonghat in Jaipur. The event took place in the presence of Shri Rajesh Yadav, Principal Secretary of Tourism, Art & Culture and Chairman of RTDC; Tourism Commissioner Rukmani Riyar; and senior officials from the Urban Development, Revenue, and Local Self-Government departments.

The meeting aimed to expedite the implementation of 79 signed MoUs under the Rising Rajasthan initiative by resolving pending issues such as land allotment, land conversion, and building plan approvals. Representatives from Tourism Finance Corporation of India Ltd. were also present to provide guidance on loan requirements for hotel construction projects.

“Tourism: A Pillar of Rajasthan’s Economic Growth”

Addressing the investors, Shri Rajesh Yadav emphasized that tourism is not just an industry but a cornerstone of Rajasthan’s economic growth and employment generation. He highlighted that the upcoming Rising Rajasthan Partnership Conclave (11–12 December 2025) will be a key platform to showcase tourism project progress and attract global investors and operators.

CM-level Monitoring of MoUs

Yadav noted that the state government has put in place a multi-level monitoring system for implementation of MoUs. The Chief Minister himself reviews MoU projects monthly, while the Chief Secretary conducts reviews every 15 days. A dedicated MoU Facilitation Cell has also been established within the Tourism Department, monitored weekly by the Principal Secretary and the Commissioner.

Senior officials have been assigned district-level responsibilities to ensure on-ground execution of MoUs. Additionally, the government has requested UDH, LSG, and Revenue departments to release notifications under RTUP-2024 and publish a comprehensive land policy.

₹1.37 Lakh Crore in Tourism MoUs Signed

Tourism Commissioner Rukmani Riyar stated that under Rising Rajasthan, nearly 1,600 investment MoUs have been signed in tourism, including hotels, resorts, heritage properties, wellness centers, eco-tourism, and other innovative projects. These collectively propose investments of ₹1.37 lakh crore and employment for around 1.9 lakh people. Of these, 29 projects are fully operational, and 213 projects have completed groundbreaking, with proposed investment of ₹28,200 crore and 13,500 jobs.

Turning Challenges into Opportunities

Riyar noted that this dialogue was organized to address implementation challenges. Senior officers from UDH, Revenue, and LSG departments participated. Representatives from Tourism Finance Corporation of India were invited from Delhi to discuss financing needs. District Collectors have been instructed to conduct local MoU review meetings in the coming months to enable ground-level resolutions.

New Tourism Policies in Pipeline

Additional Director of Tourism Shri Pawan Kumar Jain gave a presentation on the state’s newly launched Tourism Unit Policy 2024, which includes incentives for investors. He also announced two upcoming policies:

1. Rajasthan Film Tourism Promotion Policy – to position the state as a global film shooting hub.
2. New Integrated Tourism Policy – focusing on tourism infrastructure, job creation, and experience-based tourism.

He highlighted the growing potential of Rajasthan in destination weddings, international events, and film shoots, which is making the tourism sector even more attractive for investment.