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-Priyadarshi Shastri (cbedit@imaws.org)
Rajasthan, especially Pushkar has been a favourite vacation spot for domestic as well as international tourists. Pushkar holds a spiritual ambience and vibrant cultural heritage making it an important city in re-shaping the hospitality and tourism industry. President of the Pushkar Hotel Association Mr Rajender Singh, in an exclusive chat, gives some insight on how the hotel associations are working. Edited Excerpts-
How has the association evolved over the years in terms of membership, influence, and services provided?
I have been associated with the Pushkar Hotel Association for the past 25 years. There are many levels in this and each has evolved in its way. Jaisalmer Association and Udaipur Association as well as the Jaipur Association are doing their best at their level to bring awareness, make policies and make new measures regarding the safety of guests. Government officials such as the principal secretary and tourism secretary also support our association.
Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Diya Kumari is very supportive towards the tourism sector. We aim to encourage more people and hotels to join us and help us bring change to the industry.
What trends in tourism and hospitality have you observed in Rajasthan over the past few years?
Honestly, the tourism and hospitality sector has transformed amazingly. From 2003 till 2017, we used to have a tourist season from Diwali to Holi as Summer in the state is quite harsh making it difficult for travellers to visit. The majority of the tourists were inbound i.e. foreign visitors visiting our state, coming from the U.S.A, Europe, Latin America China etc. After 2017, the trend of destination weddings played a major role in bringing domestic tourists to Pushkar, Udaipur and Jaipur. Now I would say, we have 90% domestic visitors and around 10% international visitors.
Rajasthan is a major tourism destination in India. How do you see the hotel industry contributing to the state’s economy?
Rajasthan is always been a favourite destination for tourists worldwide. From forts and palaces to Shahi Train, we have everything to offer in one state. Visitors have always appreciated vacation spots like Mount Abu Udaipur and Hadoti. Banswara, an island much greener and quieter gives a safe haven to relax and enjoy a great time with family and friends. With so much to explore and enjoy, the tourism sector contributes to 10-12% of the state’s economy. Overall, the tourism industry here is doing great in terms of vacations and destination weddings to name a few.
Additionally, the upcoming Bharatmala expressway will help us to have better connectivity from Delhi, Gujarat and Mumbai attracting more visitors locally.
How have global events like the pandemic or economic changes affected hotel occupancy rates and revenues?
Not just in Rajasthan but worldwide pandemic made things worse for the tourism sector. No rates no revenues. The only hotels and places that survived were those that were acquired as quarantine places by the hospital. But after bad times, good times always come. After the pandemic, the industry started thriving. Jaipur, Pushkar, Jaisalmer has become a favourite tourist destination for domestic travellers. Govterment tourism scheme to boost rural tourism has also played a vital role in attracting more revenues and customers in the state.
How does the state government support the hospitality industry, and are there any policies that need improvement?
As I said, the government is quite supportive towards the hospitality and tourism industry. Licensing has become very easy. If you have a property and want to start a business then all you have to do is register it at RTDC (Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation) and you are ready to go. Also, govt has given liberty to agro-farming. There are many schemes to support big as well as small investments in the sector.
How do hotels in Rajasthan handle pricing strategies, especially during peak tourist seasons or festivals?
Occupancy and pricing are co-related. Supply is limited and demand is high so the prices of hotel rooms will go high. For example, during Pushkar Mela, many tourists arrive in the city so obviously the prices will go high as we have limited supply. But still, many new hotels opened making more rooms available for visitors.
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