Make Rajasthan part of 2010 bonanza: Assocham

The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) has mooted a proposal to the Union government to release a special package of Rs 1,000 crore for Rajasthan to make it the epicentre for 2010 Commonwealth Games by renovating its tourists sites including historical monuments, lakes, ponds and bird sanctuary.

Assocham President Venugopal N Dhoot, who met the Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, said matching fund should also be earmarked by the state government in the proposed package to witness mushrooming of budgeted and three-star hotels and help the state surge in employment opportunities.

Addressing a Press conference here today, Dhoot said this was suggested because Rajasthan, being the nearest historic state from Delhi, would have a better potential to sell it to Commonwealth countries tourists during 2010 games and earn for its exchequer as well as build a new image for overall development.

Dhoot also suggested to the chief minister to set up chains of gems and jewellery processing parks in the state and announce special package for setting up of IT and ITEs hubs, huge mining centres and create centres for agricultural training institutes (ATIs), robotics and automation facilities to bring the state on national roadmap.

Dhoot also emphasised the need for creation of knowledge SEZs in the state to develop skills that can enhance its exports particularly of crops, handicrafts, textiles. Classified centres for biotechnology should also be set up by establishing proper linkages with proposed ATIs so that the state increase its agri production particularly of wheat, maize and other corn production.

"The production of such grains if undertaken at mass level, it can helps cure diabetes and therefore the state should take a lead in such agri production," said Dhoot.

Referring to the corpus of Rs 1,000 crore, Dhoot suggested that with its proper use well in advance, beautification work of all Rajasthan tourists sites including those of historic monuments, lakes, ponds etc could be leased out to agencies of repute.

Rajasthan should commence the job of sites identification that should be rejuvenated with a detailed feasibility report by floating tenders now as there is little time left for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games.

According to the estimates made by Assocham, it expects around 10 million inflow of tourists in India in the year 2010 from current level of 4.43 million.

Of which, one million tourists, particularly from Commonwealth countries, are expected in India during the Commonwealth event and if all the tourists destinations in Rajasthan are beautified according to the world standards, it will conveniently attract half of the tourists that visit India during the games.

In a bid to accommodate 0.5 million inflow of tourists in various parts of Rajasthan, the revenue earnings that Rajasthan will accrue would exceed Rs1,000 crore, assuming that each tourists spends roughly Rs 20,000 on its Rajasthan trip, Dhoot said.

Clarifying that these are conservative estimates while in reality, it could be much more given the potential of the state. According to Assocham, the modern Rajasthan will bring in amenities required to allure tourists as it has remarkable roads and transport systems.

Its roads are trafficked by some of latest cars and buses, rickshaws, camel carts and horse-drawn tongas as well as improvised tempos. Rajasthan will continue to be one of the most favourite tourism destinations in the world, witnessing an unprecedented growth of more than 50 percent in domestic and foreign tourist influx in next few years.

With a record arrival of more than 12 lakh foreign tourists and 170 lakh domestic tourists during the year 2005-06, Rajasthan has been one of the most popular destinations for all.

The trends of the record arrivals reaffirm the growing popularity of Rajasthan as the most preferred tourist destination worldwide particularly in cities and places like Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur, Bikaner, Jodhpur Ranthambor Wildlife Safari and Mount Abu.

Additionally, over 7 million domestic tourists visit Rajasthan annually. The world famous "golden triangle" comprising of Delhi-Agra-Jaipur has put Jaipur on the world tourism map. Almost 60 per cent of international tourists visiting India, come to these places.

The rate of growth of tourism in Rajasthan has been phenomenal in last few years. Annual rate of growth for domestic tourists has been 7 per cent and for international tourists has been 5 per cent. The total spending by all the tourists visiting the State is over Rs 10,000 million per annum.