Rajasthan is home to many significant historical monuments that draw a large crowd of tourists from India and abroad. Heritage sites like Hawa Mahal, City Palace and Amer Fort always see many people, regardless of the season.
Amidst this, the tourism department has decided to implement a comprehensive plan that involves the creation of a portal by the Department of Information Technology. The initiative aims to enhance tourists&rsquo overall experience by providing timely and accessible information about tourist attractions and transportation options.
What Will The Smart Card Cover
An official of the tourism department mentioned that initially, tourists will have access to multiple monuments through one smart card, which will have to be recharged.
&ldquoA portal will be developed for this purpose. Tourists can visit the monuments without purchasing tickets for each. One single card will be valid at government-protected monuments in the state. Integration of this card will be done with roadways services,&rdquo the official said. During the first phase, he added, the intrastate travel service will only include super luxury buses.
Another official mentioned that the validity of smart cards will be determined in a way that can assist with crowd management at monuments. &ldquoDepending upon the system&rsquos response, the service will be expanded, and private museums or monuments will also be covered under this. This will end the requirement to stand in queue for tickets and will save time and resources,&rdquo the official said.
&ldquoThe scope of this system is large. Integration of other tourist services that include staying in Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) owned hotels, private hotels and resorts, and cab services can also be done after successful implementation at a smaller scale,&rdquo he added.
A Problem-Solving Mechanism
Gajendra Singh, a tourist guide based in Udaipur, said ticket purchasing had become time-consuming for tourists, particularly during peak seasons. If this system is rolled out, it will give significant ease to the travellers. &ldquoSuch a system will give a positive message about the state&rsquos tourism industry,&rdquo he said.
Tourism is one of the key industries in Rajasthan, with 1087.5 lakh tourists visiting the state in 2022. Apart from forts and palaces, wildlife, lakes and religious places in Rajasthan also attract many tourists from the country and abroad, including the US, France, the UK, Italy, Germany, Spain and Australia.
(With inputs from PTI)
Cover Photo Credits Unsplash