Jaipur. The sixth edition of the Rajasthan Domestic Travel Mart (RDTM) was inaugurated at the historic Amer Fort on Thursday. Organised on the theme “Stories, Journeys, Smiles: One State, Two Marts, Endless Opportunities,” the three-day event aims to showcase Rajasthan’s diverse tourism offerings and create new business opportunities for the travel and hospitality industry.
Secretary, Tourism, Government of Rajasthan, Shuchi Tyagi, who was the chief guest, said domestic tourism continues to be one of the strongest pillars of India’s tourism growth, while Rajasthan remains one of the country’s preferred tourist destinations. She said the state government is introducing new policies to attract investment, strengthen the tourism ecosystem, promote local participation and enhance value creation across the tourism sector.
Tyagi said tourists are increasingly seeking authentic and experiential travel rather than visiting only conventional destinations. Rajasthan has considerable potential in wedding, rural, wildlife, eco, wellness, adventure, spiritual, monsoon and MICE tourism. The government is working to develop the state as a year-round destination by promoting lesser-known places, new tourism circuits and local experiences, she said.
Commissioner, Rajasthan Tourism, Rukmani Riar, said there is a need to develop region-specific and experience-based tourism products. She said RDTM provides an important platform to develop new products, tap emerging domestic markets and encourage tourists to explore destinations beyond established circuits. She also emphasised coordination between the government, tourism industry and local communities.
President, Federation of Hospitality and Tourism of Rajasthan (FHTR), Surendra Singh Shahpura, said domestic tourist footfall in Rajasthan has increased significantly after the COVID-19 pandemic. He highlighted the growing number of visitors to Khatu Shyam Ji Temple in Sikar and urged tourism stakeholders to include unexplored destinations in their itineraries.
FHTR Secretary General Tarun Bansal said the mart is an important platform for promoting tourism, generating employment and creating business opportunities. Former FHTR and RATO President Kuldeep Singh Chandela said more than 700 hoteliers and tourism companies will showcase their products during the two-day exhibition.
During the inaugural programme, representatives from the tourism and adventure sectors, including ATOAI President Tejbir Singh Anand, Horse India’s Caroline Moorey and FAITH Consulting CEO Aashish Gupta, spoke about changing tourism trends and emerging opportunities in Rajasthan.
A film showcasing lesser-known destinations of Rajasthan, prepared by FHTR, was screened during the ceremony along with a film prepared by the Rajasthan Department of Tourism. The FHTR Magazine, HRAR Magazine and Stepwell Project Report were also unveiled.
As part of the Kamaicha Project, aimed at preserving Rajasthan’s traditional cultural heritage, traditional Kamaichas were presented to artistes Sandeep Ratnu and Niyaz Khan. The Kamaicha is an important traditional musical instrument associated with Rajasthan’s folk music heritage.
B2B Meetings and Exhibition on September 18 and 19
The RDTM exhibition will be inaugurated through a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 am on September 18 at the B.M. Birla Convention Centre, Jaipur. The two-day exhibition will feature pre-scheduled B2B meetings between registered buyers and sellers.
Around 300 travel agents from across the country and more than 700 properties and tour companies from Rajasthan are participating in the mart. More than 21,000 B2B meetings are expected to be held, providing buyers an opportunity to explore Rajasthan’s tourism, hospitality and experiential travel products.
For the first time, RDTM 2026 will also bring the events and wedding industry onto its platform, along with Rajasthan’s lesser-known art, culture, heritage and cuisine. The mart will also promote responsible tourism initiatives, including the restoration of stepwells and preservation of the cultural identity of the traditional Kamaicha.
Exhibition Open to Public on September 19
On the final day, September 19, B2B meetings will continue, while the exhibition will open to the general public from 2 pm.
RDTM 2026 is being organised by the Federation of Hospitality and Tourism of Rajasthan (FHTR) with the support of the Department of Tourism, Government of Rajasthan. Several tourism and hospitality organisations, including HRAR, RATO, IHHA, IATO and ADTOI, are supporting the event. The CREDAI Tourism Wing is also participating this year.
The mart will continue until September 19 and aims to highlight the diversity of Rajasthan’s tourism and hospitality sector while facilitating new business opportunities for stakeholders.