Module 10 • Tourism Policies & Global EventsOctober 202616 min read
Tourism Policy 2025, RTICF, Homestay Scheme & Global Cultural Events
Target Exam: RPSC RAS / RTS Combined Competitive Examination•Official Sources: Rajasthan State Gazettes, Budget & Official ReleasesRajasthan State Gazettes, Budget & Official Releases
Tourism Policy 2025, RTICF, Homestay Scheme & Global Cultural Events
Tourism is a cornerstone of Rajasthan's service economy, generating widespread direct and indirect livelihood linkages. During 2025 and 2026, the Department of Tourism executed sweeping institutional, fiscal, and regulatory reforms to diversify Rajasthan beyond heritage monuments into film tourism, rural homestays, MICE tourism, and world-class pilgrimage infrastructure.
1. Institutional Reforms: RTICF & Tourism Development Board
1.
Rajasthan Tourism Infrastructure and Capacity Building Fund (RTICF):
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Constituted: 11 March 2025.
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Mandate & Corpus: Created to fund tourism infrastructure works exceeding ₹5,000 crore.
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Delivery Progress: By December 2025, 88 major projects worth ₹276 crore had received formal administrative approval.
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Priority Sectors: Heritage restoration, religious corridors, eco-tourism, adventure trails, visitor facilitation centres, and global state branding.
2.
Rajasthan Tourism Development Board:
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Constituted: 20 November 2025.
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Function: Apex advisory and coordinating statutory body to streamline inter-departmental clearances and design global promotional strategies.
2. Policy Suite: Tourism, Film, and Homestays
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Rajasthan Tourism Policy 2025 (Implemented 7 Dec 2025): Comprehensive master policy fostering experiential tourism, adventure safety standards, sustainable carrying capacities, and aggressive private capital participation.
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Rajasthan Film Tourism Promotion Policy 2025 (Implemented 20 Dec 2025):
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Offers streamlined single-window shooting permits within 15 days, production subsidies up to ₹2 crore, and total exemption from state monument entry fees.
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Drives economic multipliers: Film shooting → Local logistics/hotel hiring → Film release → Global fan tourism.
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Rajasthan Homestay (Paying Guest House) Scheme 2026: Facilitates homeowners in rural and heritage zones to register paying guest units, empowering women self-help groups and dispersing tourist revenue beyond congested urban hotels.
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Investment Footprint (2025–26 up to Dec 2025):
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462 tourism projects approved with committed investment of ₹7,609.21 crore.
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Potential direct employment creation of 22,427 jobs.
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Tourism properties enjoy full industry status, receiving concessional industrial electricity tariffs and urban development tax rebates.
3. Pilgrimage Shrines under Swadesh Darshan 2.0
| Shrine / Destination | District | Approved Allocation | Focus Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Khatu Shyam Ji Temple | Sikar | ₹87.87 crore | Pilgrim queues, holding complexes, multi-level parking |
| Malaseri Dungri | Bhilwara | ₹48.73 crore | Devnarayan pilgrimage development & cultural museum |
| Karni Mata Temple (Deshnoke) | Bikaner | ₹22.57 crore | Heritage parikrama, pilgrim amenities, sanitary infrastructure |
| Keshorai Patan Temple | Bundi | ₹21.65 crore | Chambal riverfront ghats, heritage lighting, civic facilities |
4. International Events & Accolades (2025–26)
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25th IIFA Festival & Awards 2025: Hosted in Jaipur from 7–9 March 2025, projecting Rajasthan's royal heritage onto the global media stage.
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Great Indian Travel Bazaar (GITB 2025): Held in Jaipur from 4–6 May 2025, hosting 272 foreign tour operators from 53 countries and over 300 domestic sellers for over 19,000 B2B meetings.
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Pravasi Rajasthani Divas: Officially celebrated on 10 December 2025 at JECC Jaipur, instituting the prestigious Pravasi Rajasthani Samman Awards.
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India Today Tourism Awards 2025 Triumphs:
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Kumbhalgarh: Winner in the Mountain Category.
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Bikaner: Winner in the Culinary Category.
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Amer Fort: Winner in the Heritage Category.
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Outlook Traveller Awards 2025: Udaipur was crowned the Best Wedding Destination in India.
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Global Leadership Honour: Rajasthan Deputy CM & Tourism Minister Diya Kumari received the "Woman Tourism Minister of the Year, India" award from PATWA at ITB Berlin 2025.
Key Examination Takeaways:
- RTICF was constituted on 11 March 2025 for ₹5,000+ crore tourism works, approving 88 projects worth ₹276 crore by Dec 2025.
- Tourism Policy 2025 and Film Tourism Promotion Policy 2025 were implemented in December 2025 alongside the Homestay Scheme 2026.
- Swadesh Darshan 2.0 funded key shrines: Khatu Shyam (₹87.87 Cr), Malaseri Dungri (₹48.73 Cr), Karni Mata (₹22.57 Cr), and Keshorai Patan (₹21.65 Cr).
- Rajasthan hosted IIFA 2025 and GITB 2025 in Jaipur; Dy CM Diya Kumari won the PATWA Woman Tourism Minister of the Year award at ITB Berlin.