‘Tourism friendly’ Budget lifts spirits, hopes in Rajasthan

JAIPUR: Despite being part of only an interim Budget, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s proposals for boosting domestic tourism echoed in Rajasthan, which gets around 13% contribution to its GDP from the sector.
Tourism industry leaders said that never before had so much importance been given to tourism in the Union budget, and the announcements will provide a fillip to tourism in the state.
Sitharaman said in her budget speech that states would be encouraged to take up comprehensive development of iconic tourist centres and marketing them on a global scale.
She also said that a framework for rating of the tourist centres based on quality of facilities and services would be established. “Long-term interest-free loans will be provided to states for financing such development on matching basis,” the finance minister said.
Ranvijay Singh, joint secretary of Hotels and Restaurants Association of Rajasthan, said, “Rajasthan has innumerable unique tourism products which will benefit immensely if these schemes are implemented on ground.”
He added that the Centre’s attention and priority to tourism had never been so pronounced as it was now.
Suresh Agarwal, president of Federation of Rajasthan Trade and Industry (FORTI), said, “Tourism and MSMEs are key to Rajasthan’s economy and despite it being an interim Budget, the finance minister has given priority to these sectors.”
Agarwal said the announcement of ensuring timely and adequate finances, relevant technologies, and appropriate training for MSMEs to grow and also compete globally is cause for optimism for the tourism sector.
President of Garment Exporters Association of Rajasthan, Jaqir Hussain, said that the direction of the Budget was positive but the whole year’s budget would provide the details on how the MSME sector was going to benefit.
“We need to see policies and allocations in full clarity, which will come only after the presentation of the full Budget,” said Hussain.