Udaipur, October 19, 2024 – Rajsamand District Collector Balamukund Asawa held a meeting of the District Tourism Development Committee yesterday, October 18,  at the Kumbhalgarh Sub-Division office. The meetings’ agenda was to address tourism development, provide better facilities for tourists, and find solutions to problems existing in the Kumbhalgarh region and the entire district.

The meeting was conducted by Deputy Director (Tourism) Shikha Saxena and attended by officials from tourism, electricity, water, autonomous governance, Panchayati Raj, ASI, ADM Naresh Bunkar, Sub-Divisional Officer Govind Singh and representatives of the hotel association.

Deputy Director Saxena discussed various points in line with the district’s tourism potential, assuring that positive changes in the tourism sector would be seen in the near future.

Cultural Programs, Village Tourism, Parking

The District Collector brought up the subject of parking at Kumbhalgarh Fort and it was decided to talk to local landowners so that this issue could be resolved. Discussions were held about organising cultural programmes at the fort with the cooperation of West Zone Cultural Centre, Udaipur, as a pre-event to the light and sound show, in order to promote art and culture during weekends.

Saxena informed that the site inspection for project Village Tourism near Lakhela Lake was complete. The Collector had directed the development of village tourism on the land previously allotted to the Tourism Department. The Collector stressed on the need for setting up shops for Self-Help Groups (SHGs) alongside Village Tourism. Instructions were given to install hoardings highlighting major tourist spots along highways, develop adventure tourism in the district, and improve lighting at Kumbhalgarh Fort. The Collector further directed officials to conduct an effective cleanliness drive throughout the Kumbhalgarh area.

Dedicated Efforts Needed

Asawa discussed the potential for tourism expansion saying Kumbhalgarh is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and dedicated efforts are needed to make it more attractive. He directed officials to ensure that all basic amenities related to tourism, such as electricity, water, and sanitation, are well-maintained so that tourists do not face any difficulties.

Hotel association representatives raised various issues related to the hotel industry. They specifically pointed out the need to address frequent power cuts and the condition of roads. The Collector instructed the relevant departments to resolve these promptly, stressing that full cooperation from all quarters is essential to promote tourism in Kumbhalgarh.

Cleanliness Campaign

Apart from infrastructure, the Collector felt that facilities like guides, parking management, and cleanliness were to be prioritised to attract tourists. He directed officials to start working on these elements as soon as possible.

The meeting concluded with the Collector emphasising on all that coordinated efforts are essential for the overall development of the Kumbhalgarh region.