The Rajasthan Domestic Travel Mart officially opened on Thursday evening against the backdrop of Ganesh Pol at Jaipur's historic Amer Palace. Following the inauguration ceremony at 5:30 PM, the festivities transitioned to Jaleb Chowk for an elaborate cultural presentation. Anchored around this year's theme, 'Stories, Journey, Smiles', the event aims to highlight the vibrant cultural landscape, hospitality ecosystem, and diverse travel opportunities that Rajasthan offers to domestic and international visitors.
Celebration of Folk Heritage and Traditional Music
A major focal point of the inaugural evening was a musical performance by renowned folk artist Ismail Langa. Accompanied by indigenous traditional instruments, Langa presented quintessential Rajasthani folk melodies that captivated industry delegates and invited guests. Ismail Langa and his family have dedicated generations to preserving and promoting regional oral music traditions. Notably, his group has been officially empanelled with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations under the Folk-Rajasthan category since 2017. Their performance offered attendees a direct encounter with the artistic roots that drive the state's cultural tourism appeal.
High-Level Government and Industry Participation
The leadership presence at the inaugural ceremony included invitations extended to Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari, and Chief Secretary V. Srinivas. Key administrative officers directly overseeing regional development, including Tourism Secretary Shuchi Tyagi and Tourism Commissioner Rukmani Riar, joined industry stakeholders and hospitality operators. This gathering of senior policymakers and private sector operators creates a forum to align policy support with commercial expansion across the hospitality landscape.
Commercial Engagements and New Focus on Destination Weddings
Organised jointly by the Department of Tourism and the Federation of Hospitality and Tourism in Rajasthan, the mart continues through September 19. The operational core of the event shifts to the B.M. Birla Convention Centre on September 18 and 19 for industry exhibitions and scheduled business-to-business discussions. Industry participation includes approximately 300 travel agents from across India engaging with representatives from over 700 local properties, heritage venues, and tour operators based in Rajasthan.
Organisers anticipate that participating delegates will conduct more than 21,000 structured B2B meetings during the mart. For the first time, the event has incorporated dedicated space for the events and wedding industry. This strategic addition allows planners managing high-end destination weddings and corporate conventions to build direct operational partnerships with regional hospitality providers, venue owners, and logistics firms.
Night Polo and Community Access
Beyond closed-door commercial negotiations, the three-day agenda integrates lifestyle and heritage sporting activities. On September 18, a night polo exhibition match takes place at the Rajasthan Polo Club Ground at 7:00 PM. Furthermore, the exhibition floor at the convention centre will welcome the general public starting at 2:00 PM on September 19, allowing local residents and travel enthusiasts to explore current tourism offerings and destinations firsthand.
