Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal launches new Tourism Policy

Key Takeaways

The Chief Minister's Office of Rajasthan announced the new Rajasthan Tourism Policy on 10 August 2026 .

Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma , in office since December 2023 , is credited with driving the policy.

The policy aims to give fresh momentum to Rajasthan's tourism sector, a core economic driver for the state.

Rajasthan's previous tourism policy framework dates to 2015 , focused on public-private partnerships and infrastructure.

Specific provisions, investment targets and implementation details are yet to be made public.

Rajasthan, a state whose deserts, forts and festivals have drawn travellers for centuries, is now betting on a fresh policy framework to sharpen that edge. The Chief Minister's Office of Rajasthan announced on Monday, 10 August 2026 that a new Rajasthan Tourism Policy has been implemented to accelerate growth in the sector, with Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma credited with the initiative.

The CMO posted in Hindi: 'राजस्थान में पर्यटन को गति प्रदान करने के लिए नई राजस्थान पर्यटन नीति लागू की गई है' — 'A new Rajasthan Tourism Policy has been implemented to give momentum to tourism in the state.'

Building on a decade of policy evolution

Rajasthan's push to institutionalise tourism is not new. The state had previously rolled out a tourism policy in 2015, focused on public-private partnerships and infrastructure development. The new policy, announced under Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma — who took office in December 2023 as the BJP's choice to lead the state — signals the current administration's intent to move beyond inherited frameworks and set its own investment and visitor-growth targets. The state has long positioned tourism as a core economic engine, leveraging iconic heritage sites, the Thar Desert, and its calendar of cultural festivals to attract both domestic and international visitors. Successive governments have periodically updated the policy architecture around this sector, and this announcement continues that pattern — with the BJP government now putting its own stamp on the direction.

What the industry will be watching

The hospitality and tourism industry in Rajasthan will be looking closely at the full policy document for specifics: investment incentive structures, targets for tourist inflows, and the monitoring mechanisms the government plans to deploy. Those details will determine whether this policy marks a genuine step-change or an incremental update. Rajasthan's tourism sector is one of the most consequential in India, and any credible policy refresh carries real economic weight — for hoteliers in Jaipur, camel operators in Jaisalmer, and heritage property owners across the Shekhawati belt alike. The government's ability to translate this announcement into measurable investment and footfall numbers will be the real test.

Point of View

Measurable incentives that can compete with other tourism-forward states. For the BJP in Rajasthan, delivering visible economic outcomes in tourism would reinforce the broader 'development' narrative ahead of future electoral cycles. The real test of this policy's ambition will come when the full document is released and the industry can assess whether it is transformative or incremental.

NationPress

10 Aug 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the new Rajasthan Tourism Policy?

The new Rajasthan Tourism Policy is a government framework implemented in August 2026 to accelerate tourism growth in Rajasthan. Specific provisions and investment targets are yet to be officially released.

Who announced the new Rajasthan Tourism Policy?

The Chief Minister's Office of Rajasthan announced the policy, attributing the initiative to Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma .

When was the new Rajasthan Tourism Policy launched?

The policy was announced on 10 August 2026 via the official Chief Minister's Office account.

What was Rajasthan's previous tourism policy?

Rajasthan had a tourism policy from 2015 that focused on public-private partnerships and tourism infrastructure development.

How does tourism contribute to Rajasthan's economy?

Tourism is one of Rajasthan's primary economic drivers, leveraging the state's heritage forts, Thar Desert, and cultural festivals to attract domestic and international visitors, supporting hospitality, crafts and related industries.