Rajasthan assures safety

Rajasthan has created an extensive framework for tourists to feel safe at all times. It also plans to develop more sites, while ensuring that its B&Bs are in tandem with any and all regulations.

TT Bureau

Govind Singh Dotasra, Minister of State, Tourism and Devasthan, Government of Rajasthan, says that their main aim is to promote tourism while ensuring that tourists coming to the state feel safe and secure. “Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot, has taken an initiative under which any person who feels unsafe or has encountered any unfortunate incident can go to the nearest police station and even approach a Special Police 0fficer and lodge a First Information Report (FIR). Rajasthan is one of the first states to take an initiative like that. Such an effort will make both international and domestic tourists feel safe,” he shares.

B&B facilities have been in Rajasthan for a long time. If there are more guidelines on a national level, we will follow them

Rajasthan has plenty to offer and a number of sites that can be developed for tourism. Dotasra, however, says that getting clearances can sometimes be a hindrance and delay the entire process. He adds, “One major problem is that permission for forest land is not given easily. If we wish to develop a ropeway in areas like Sikar, clearance from the forest department doesn’t come easy. Even for tribal areas, especially in Chittor which is the birthplace of Maharana Pratap (the 13th king of Rajasthan’s Mewar region) and has great temples and places of historical significance, getting a clearance for development work is difficult. We want to bring this forth to Ministry of Tourism, so that all departments can work together to promote the sector.” The minister also acknowledges the government’s initiative in giving Jaipur the status of a heritage city. At the recent conference of tourism ministers in New Delhi, Dotasra also expressed his view on Bed & Breakfast (B&B) establishments, saying that “these facilities have been in existence in Rajasthan for a long time. If there are more guidelines for this on a national level, we will follow them.”