The state tourism department in JAIPUR has made significant strides by granting industry status benefits to the sector. However, there has been limited progress in the development and conservation of tourist destinations over the past few years. According to sources within the tourism department, the main reason for the low utilization of funds is the lack of financial resources. Both the development of destinations and promotional efforts have fallen short of the allocated budget due to insufficient funds. For instance, out of the sanctioned amount of Rs 65 crore for improving facilities and infrastructure in tourist destinations in 2022-23, only 11% was spent by December. Similarly, in 2021-22, out of the sanctioned Rs 32 crore, only Rs 11.88 crore (37%) was utilized.

Despite the state government announcing a tourism development fund of Rs 500 crore over the past three years, no allocation has been made to the fund. Instead, the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) had to raise loans against its properties to contribute to the fund, amounting to approximately Rs 250 crore so far.

The lack of available funds has hindered the progress of development projects, as government departments and agencies require funds to initiate tender processes. The RTDC is currently seeking to raise Rs 400 crore from a financial institution to support the ongoing work. The delay in leasing RTDC hotels to private operators has also raised concerns about the repayment of loans.

Furthermore, the utilization of sanctioned funds for promotion and publicity has seen a sharp decline. The challenges faced by the tourism department in accessing funds and completing projects have been compounded by upcoming state elections and the implementation of the code of conduct in a little over two months.

Efforts are being made to address these issues, but it remains to be seen how the current administration will overcome the time constraints and achieve the desired outcomes. Both development and conservation works, as well as promotional activities, require immediate attention to ensure the growth and success of the tourism sector.