Rajasthan govt plans to develop 23 old airstrips on PPP mode: Tourism Minister

Rajasthan government is planning to develop 23 old airstrips on a public-private partnership mode where chartered and smaller flights can land, Tourism Minister Vishvendra Singh said here on Sunday.

dressing G20 Tourism Expo in Jaipur hosted at luxury heritage hotel, he also exhorted all participants to go back as "ambassors of Rajasthan tourism".

"Under guidance and leership of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, we are planning to put out 23 old airstrips on a PPT (public-private partnership mode) where chartered flights linkage can be provided directly," Singh said.

Singh also holds portfolio of civil aviation in state cabinet.

Citing an example of Kishangarh airport, he said that after operationalisation of flights to this airport, a lot of crowd has got diverted from main airport.

So, people going to Ajmer or those going for 'ziyarat' are going through Kishangarh airport, minister said.

When asked about status of this plan, he said that it was "in pipeline and, soon, it will be done".

"We plan to give se airstrips on a PPP mode, so investment will be from private sector. And, we (state) will take a certain percentage of landing and taking off charges. So, it will enhance connectivity," Singh told PTI.

Asked if se 23 airstrips have been identified, he said y are all existing ones, including those from colonial era or those me by former rulers.

In response to anor inquiry, he said, arrangement should be such that chartered flights and smaller flights can land at se airstrips.

day-long G20 Tourism Expo was held at Rambagh Palace hotel of Taj group, by Ministry of Tourism in association with Rajasthan tourism department and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

In his dress, tourism minister, also said that "tourism" does not belong to any party wher Congress or BJP and urged that whenever any fund is to come from Centre to state, it should be speedily released.

Singh said that new Rajasthan rural tourism scheme, approved a few months ago, has many elements which "a lot of states want to copy".

Rajasthan Cabinet in November approved Rajasthan Rural Tourism Scheme, 2022, to boost rural tourism and generate employment.

This scheme will create employment opportunities in villages and protect handicrafts industry by establishing rural guest houses, agricultural tourism units, camping sites and caravan parks.

At same time, scheme will acquaint domestic and foreign tourists with Rajasthan’s rural culture.

"This rural tourism policy will generate a lot of employment, put focus on our folklore, rural landscape, wildlife, cultural and heritage sites re, and religious sites, beyond oft-talked about sites," Singh said.

event was also attended by delegates from G20 member countries like -- Italy, Turkiye, Australia, and Germany.

Ambassor of South Korea to India, Chang Jae-bok, was also present on occasion.

G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant was also scheduled to attend event, but could not make it, a senior official said.

G20 Tourism Expo is being organised simultaneously with 12th edition of Great Indian Travel Bazaar (GITB).

GITB, one of biggest events of inbound tourism in India, is co-organized by Ministry of Tourism along with Department of Tourism, government of Rajasthan and FICCI.

three-day GITB kicked off on Sunday evening, with its inaugural function held in premises of charming Jai Mahal Palace hotel of Taj group, late evening on Sunday.

Being held after a gap of three years, GITB will witness over 11,000 B2B meetings of 283 tour operators from 56 countries, including over 150 from G20 countries, with representatives of tourism boards from 11 states namely – Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Odisha, Mhya Presh, Punjab, Tamil Nu, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Presh, apart from Rajasthan along with nearly 290 Indian exhibitors, organisers said.

Rajasthan Chief Secretary Usha Sharma, Chairman of Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation, Dharmendra Singh Rathore, Rajasthan Tourism Secretary Gayatri Rathore, Union Tourism Secretary Arvind Singh, attended event held late evening at iconic hotel.

chief secretary also spoke on importance of forest department in promoting tourism.

re is a leopard sanctuary in Jaipur, she said.

"And, re are several destinations that we are trying to develop eir as a leopard sanctuary or a tiger sanctuary, so, we have ded two in Jaipur, we are ding one in Bundi, ding one in Jhalawar, one in Karauli, Udaipur. So, now realising potential of tourism and how it generates employment, we are also entering into this area. We are trying to make Rajasthan as a capital for big cats," Sharma said.

Sharma, one of co-founders of GITB whose first edition was held in 2008 and current 12th edition being held after a gap due to COVID-19 pandemic, said, she was "impressed" with way GIYB hms grown over years.

She praised Rajasthan film tourism policy and said, so much of Rajasthan is seen in films and even in OTT-based web series.

Rajasthan Tourism department and RTDC are working with a shared vision and setting new standards and models.

Rajasthan tourism secretary in her dress at expo, spoke of recovery me by sector and how G20 has given much-needed impets, and reiterated it at GITN event.

On heritage tourism front, after mentioned it at expo, she again underlined that about 75 per cent of heritage hotels in India are located in Rajasthan, and many of se properties have been restored and reused which attract tourists.

Union Tourism Secretary Singh said, about one lakh G20 delegates will visit India this year.

On third Tourism Working Group meeting planned to be held in Srinagar, he said, this will also be important as "communique" that will be released after Goa ministeral meeting of G20, will be finalised in Srinagar meeting.

Singh said with growing economy in India, tourism sector in country, which stands at USD 150 billlion today, will grow to USD 1 trillion in next 20-25 years.

India plans to promote green tourism, open up to 50 new tourism destinations, and launch a publicity campaign in overseas markets during its presidency of G20 this year, he ded.