At a glance
- Rajasthan ranked fifth in India in 2024 in both domestic and foreign tourist visits.
- Sikar leads in domestic visits and Jaipur, ahead of Udaipur, in foreign visits (2025).
- Khatu Shyam is the most visited religious site and Jaisalmer Fort the most visited heritage site, in both 2024 and 2025.
- The Rajasthan Tourism Policy 2025, in force from 7 December 2025, replaced the Rajasthan Tourism Policy 2020.
- Rajasthan was one of the first states to give tourism the status of an industry, in 1989.
Tourism policy in force
| Vision | Rajasthan as a leading destination for tourism, art and culture, with sustainable development and the state's heritage kept for future generations |
|---|---|
| Period | Stays in force until a new policy is issued; reviewed in full after two years |
| Earlier steps | Capital investment scheme for tourism from 1993; a tourism policy in 2001, among the first states to issue one |
| Launch | Launched at Jaipur on 10 December 2025 |
| Film policy | Rajasthan Film Tourism Promotion Policy 2025, in force from 20 December 2025: subsidy up to 30% of shooting expenditure |
| Tourism Development Board | Constituted on 20 November 2025 |
The Policy 2025 sets out eight key interventions:
- Easier private investment in tourism
- A stronger skilling system for the tourism sector
- Better tourism infrastructure and upkeep of tourist sites
- Better connectivity to major tourist sites
- Cleanliness, safety and accessibility
- Information and bundled experiences for tourists
- Branding, marketing and outreach
- Departments and corporations aligned to what the tourism ecosystem needs
Tourist visits, 2024 and 2025
The figures are tourist visits in calendar years, compiled from the department's tourist reception and information centres and from the police.
| Calendar year | Domestic visits | Foreign visits | Total visits | Change on 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 23,00,84,198 | 20,72,407 | 23,21,56,605 | |
| 2025 | 25,25,03,432 | 19,45,068 | 25,44,48,500 | Domestic +9.74%, foreign −6.14%, total +9.60% |
Foreign visits cluster in winter: in 2025, 41% came in January to March and 34% in October to December, against 11% in April to June and 14% in July to September. Domestic visits were spread more evenly: 31% each in July to September and October to December, 20% in January to March and 18% in April to June.
| Foreign visits by country | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| United States of America | 1,57,817 | 1,69,868 |
| United Kingdom | 1,28,994 | 1,33,978 |
| France | 1,25,469 | 1,31,270 |
| Germany | 77,797 | 82,703 |
| Italy | 77,868 | 71,636 |
| Australia | 68,283 | 65,252 |
Leading districts
| District | Domestic visits, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Sikar | 3,08,75,927 |
| Ajmer | 2,65,11,241 |
| Chittorgarh | 2,53,01,885 |
| Jaisalmer | 2,18,32,035 |
| Jaipur | 1,73,49,658 |
| Foreign visits | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jaipur | 8,72,887 | 6,23,534 | 5,60,249 |
| Udaipur | 2,13,271 | 4,83,109 | 4,70,971 |
| Jodhpur | 1,32,059 | 2,07,490 | 1,89,454 |
| Jaisalmer | 1,61,884 | 1,53,716 | |
| Ajmer | 1,05,780 | 1,03,393 | 81,618 |
| Dausa | 78,985 | 86,583 | 83,505 |
Jaipur stayed first for foreign visits in all three years, though it lost 2,49,353 of them in 2024. Udaipur stayed second and more than doubled in 2024, gaining 2,69,838. Jaisalmer was not among the top five in 2023, and Dausa replaced Ajmer at fifth place in 2025.
Most visited religious sites (domestic, lakh visits)
| Site | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Khatu Shyam, Sikar | 236.00 | 258.00 |
| Poonchhari ka Lautha, Deeg | 95.51 | 147.12 |
| Pushkar, Ajmer | 124.76 | 132.46 |
| Sanwaliyaji Seth, Chittorgarh | 106.90 | 119.40 |
| Dargah Sharif, Ajmer | 73.91 | 84.61 |
Poonchhari ka Lautha grew the most in 2025, by 51.61 lakh visits.
Most visited historical and heritage sites (domestic, lakh visits)
| Site | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Jaisalmer Fort, Jaisalmer | 44.17 | 41.92 |
| Hawa Mahal, Jaipur | 14.67 | 18.24 |
| Amer Fort, Jaipur | 16.04 | 18.15 |
| City Palace, Udaipur | 12.84 | 15.23 |
| Chittorgarh Fort, Chittorgarh | 8.90 | 13.44 |
In 2025 Chittorgarh Fort gained 4.54 lakh visits and Hawa Mahal 3.57 lakh, while Jaisalmer Fort fell by 2.25 lakh.
World Heritage properties
| Property | Year inscribed | Place |
|---|---|---|
| Keoladeo National Park | 1985 | Bharatpur |
| Jantar Mantar | 2010 | Jaipur |
| Hill Forts of Rajasthan | 2013 | Chittorgarh; Kumbhalgarh (Rajsamand); Jaisalmer; Ranthambore (Sawai Madhopur); Amer (Jaipur); Gagron (Jhalawar) |
| Jaipur City | 2019 | The Walled City of Jaipur |
No new property in Rajasthan was added at the 2025 and 2026 sessions; India has 45 in all since Sarnath was inscribed in July 2026. The forts themselves are on the forts page and Keoladeo on the wildlife page.
Kinds of tourism and main places
| Kind | Main places | In the Policy 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Heritage | Jaisalmer Fort, Shergarh Fort (Baran), Khandar Fort (Sawai Madhopur), Nahargarh and Amer (Jaipur), Abhaneri (Dausa), Kishori Mahal (Bharatpur); the havelis of Shekhawati | These places to be upgraded among ten Iconic Tourist Destinations; a conservation plan and heritage walk for Shekhawati havelis; night tourism; a Rajasthan Heritage Conservation and Development Authority |
| Martial heritage | Tanot Mata and Longewala (Jaisalmer) | Curated tourism around war memorials and border sites, for the state's martial heritage |
| Spiritual | Nathdwara (Rajsamand), Khatu Shyam (Sikar), Salasar Balaji (Churu), Mehandipur Balaji (Dausa), Devnarayan Temple (Tonk), Ramdevra (Jaisalmer), Brahma Temple at Pushkar (Ajmer), Karni Mata at Deshnok (Bikaner), Govind Dev Ji and Galta Ji (Jaipur), Ranakpur (Pali), Mahaveer Ji (Karauli) | Krishna Gaman Path and Brij–Dwarka Teerth Marg pilgrim routes; Triveni Sangam sites at Baneshwar (Dungarpur), Rameshwar Ghat (Sawai Madhopur) and Bigod (Bhilwara) |
| Wildlife and eco | Ranthambore (Sawai Madhopur), Sariska (Alwar), Jawai Leopard Reserve (Pali), Keoladeo (Bharatpur) | Eco-tourism sites at Sambhar Lake, Khichan Conservation Reserve, Shergarh Sanctuary, Mansa Mata Conservation Reserve and Bassi Sanctuary |
| Desert | Sand dunes of Jaisalmer, Pushkar, Phalodi, Sambhar, Nagaur, Churu, Bikaner and Barmer | |
| Adventure | Hot air balloon rides in Jaipur and Pushkar; desert camps, cycling and camel safaris in Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bikaner and Pushkar; trekking in Udaipur, Ghanerao and Kumbhalgarh | Adventure zones with pre-notified safety areas and fast-track clearances |
| Cultural | Teej, the Pushkar Camel Fair and the Jaipur Literature Festival; the Ghoomar and Kalbeliya dances | |
| MICE | Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur and Neemrana for conferences, weddings and large events; Stone Mart, Vastra, the International Gems and Jewellery Show and Rajasthan International Expo (Jodhpur); a Rajasthan Mandapam is planned at Vidhyadhar Nagar, Jaipur | |
| Tribal | Mangarh Dham (Banswara), Baneshwar Dham (Dungarpur), Tripura Sundari, Sitamata Sanctuary, Rishabhdev, Gautameshwar Temple, Matrikundia | One circuit linking these sites; better tourist facilities at Mangarh Dham and Baneshwar |
| Rural | Pipalantri (Rajsamand), Devmali (then Ajmer district, now Beawar), Mahansar (Jhunjhunu), Abhaneri (Dausa) | Selected villages to be developed as rural tourism sites |
Tourist circuits: Mount Abu (Sirohi) and Ranakpur (Pali) are in the Godwar circuit.
The places themselves are on other pages: forts, temples and palaces, fairs and festivals, wildlife and sanctuaries, handicrafts, and the tribes page.
Funds, projects and travel marts
| Fund or project | What it is |
|---|---|
| Rajasthan Tourism Infrastructure and Capacity Building Fund (RTICF) | Set up by an order of 11 March 2025 for tourism works worth more than ₹5,000 crore: heritage, religious, rural, eco and adventure tourism, state branding and tourist facilities |
| Adopt a Tourism Site | Partners adopt tourism sites, including Devasthan temples and eco-tourism sites under the state, for five years or more and run their amenities |
| Special Tourism Zones | Plug-and-play zones in selected districts on the model of Aerocity, New Delhi: the state builds the common infrastructure and private firms the tourism and hospitality facilities |
| Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (Ministry of Tourism) | Four projects sanctioned in 2025: Khatu Shyam Ji temple, Sikar (₹87.87 crore, 29 March); Karni Mata temple, Bikaner (₹22.57 crore, 14 July); Malaseri Dungri, Bhilwara (₹48.73 crore, 14 July); Spiritual Experience, Keshoraipatan, Bundi (₹21.65 crore, 27 June) |
| Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (Ministry of Finance) | Two iconic destination projects worth ₹145.92 crore sanctioned on 26 November 2024: Amer–Nahargarh area (₹49.31 crore) and Jal Mahal (₹96.61 crore) |
| Great Indian Travel Bazaar | 4 to 6 May 2025, Jaipur: for inbound tourism, with 272 foreign tour operators from 53 countries |
| Rajasthan Domestic Travel Mart | 12 to 14 September 2025, Jaipur: for domestic tourism, with 295 tour operators and travel agents from across India |
| Kota–Hadoti Travel Mart | 2 to 4 January 2026, Kota: for domestic tourism in the Hadoti region, with about 183 tour operators and travel agents |
Schemes for hotels and homestays
| Scheme | Covers | Main benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Rajasthan Tourism Unit Policy (RTUP) 2024 | 24 types of tourism units, including hotels and resorts; in force from 4 December 2024 | Industry-status benefits (electricity tariff, urban development tax and building plan charges at industrial rates); minimum rooms in a hotel cut from 20 to 10; hotel trade licence for 10 years at a time |
| Rajasthan Investment Promotion Scheme (RIPS) 2024 | Tourism units as the Tourism Unit Policy defines them | Capital, SGST-linked or turnover-linked subsidy (one of them); interest subvention for MSMEs; 100% exemption from electricity duty; 75% exemption and 25% reimbursement of stamp duty |
| Rajasthan Homestay (Paying Guest House) Scheme 2021 | 1 to 5 rooms in residential houses, urban and rural | Up to 5 rooms and 15 beds for tourists; no minimum plot size or road width |
| Rajasthan Tourism Guest House Scheme 2020 | 6 to 20 rooms in residential houses in municipal areas | Minimum plot of 167 sq m on a 30 ft road |
| Rajasthan Rural Tourism Scheme 2022 | Rural tourism units outside municipal limits | 100% exemption from stamp duty; 100% reimbursement of SGST for up to 10 years |
| Heritage certificate guidelines 2021 | Heritage hotels and heritage properties | Properties built before 1 January 1950 qualify; composite bar licence at a subsidised excise fee |
Department, bodies and the Palace on Wheels
| Body | What it does |
|---|---|
| Department of Tourism | Working as an independent department since 1956 |
| Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) | Formed on 24 November 1978; runs hotels, motels and tourist transport (25 hotels and 2 motels run by it, December 2025) |
| Rajasthan State Hotels Corporation Limited | Set up on 7 June 1965; one of the department's two public sector undertakings (the other is RTDC) |
| Rajasthan State Fair Authority | Works under the department; has identified 102 fairs in the state, 42 of them registered (2025-26, up to December) |
| RITTMAN | Rajasthan Institute of Tourism and Travel Management, Jaipur: the department's autonomous institute |
| Palace on Wheels | Air-conditioned luxury tourist train run jointly by Indian Railways and RTDC since 1982 |
Remember: often mixed up
- World Heritage countfour properties on the UNESCO list; nine sites in the Tourism Policy 2025 and the Economic Review, which count the six hill forts one by one.
- Which policythe Tourism Policy 2025 is the overall policy; the Tourism Unit Policy 2024, with RIPS 2024, gives tourism units their benefits; the Film Tourism Promotion Policy 2025 covers film shoots.
- Central schemesSwadesh Darshan 2.0 (Ministry of Tourism) for Khatu Shyam, Karni Mata, Malaseri Dungri and Keshoraipatan · SASCI (Ministry of Finance) for Amer–Nahargarh and Jal Mahal.
Test yourself: asked in exams
Protection Officer 2024 · Q79
Consider the following statements with regards to district-wise international tourists visit in Rajasthan in 2023 and 2024 - (i) Jaipur shifted to second position as the most visited district because of a significant drop of 249353 tourists from 2023 to 2024. (ii) Udaipur saw an exceptional increase of 269838 international tourist visitors, more than double of its 2023 figures. Which of the above is/are correct?
- (1)Only (ii) is correct.
- (2)(i) and (ii) both are correct.
- (3)Only (i) is correct.
- (4)Neither (i) nor (ii) is correct.
Show answer
✓ (1) Only (ii) is correct.
See the full paperRAS Prelims 2024 · Q13
Mount Abu and Ranakpur are included in which tourist circuit ?
- (1)Dhundhar
- (2)Shekhawati
- (3)Godwar
- (4)Mewar
Show answer
✓ (3) Godwar
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