Curtain-raiser held for the 6th Rajasthan Domestic Travel Mart and the 1st Marwar Travel Mart

The Federation of Hospitality and Tourism of Rajasthan (FHTR), in association with the Department of Tourism, Government of Rajasthan, officially unveiled the 6th edition of the Rajasthan Domestic Travel Mart (RDTM) and the inaugural Marwar Travel Mart (MTM) during a curtain-raiser held at ITC Rajputana, Jaipur.

The 6th Rajasthan Domestic Travel Mart (RDTM) will be held in Jaipur from 17–19 September 2026, followed by the first-ever Marwar Travel Mart (MTM) in Jodhpur from 20–22 September 2026. The theme for this year’s editions is “Stories, Journey, Smiles”, celebrating Rajasthan’s diverse experiences, vibrant culture and warm hospitality.

Addressing the gathering, Ms Shuchi Tyagi, Secretary, Tourism, Government of Rajasthan, emphasised that today’s travellers are looking for meaningful and immersive experiences rather than simply ticking destinations off their travel lists.

“Tourism is Rajasthan’s greatest strength. It not only showcases our rich heritage but also creates livelihoods, businesses and employment opportunities for local communities. Under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Mr Bhajan Lal Sharma, Rajasthan is committed to creating a favourable environment for sustainable tourism growth through enhanced infrastructure, improved connectivity and focused promotion of wildlife, wellness, adventure and experiential tourism,” she said.

A key highlight of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Department of Tourism, Government of Rajasthan, and the Federation of Hospitality and Tourism of Rajasthan (FHTR), reaffirming their commitment to jointly promote the two travel marts. The official posters of RDTM and MTM were also unveiled during the ceremony.

Speaking as Guest of Honour, Ms Rukmani Riar, Commissioner, Tourism, Government of Rajasthan, observed that with global geopolitical uncertainties potentially impacting international arrivals, domestic tourism assumes even greater importance. She highlighted that RDTM recorded over 20,000 B2B meetings last year, with the upcoming edition expected to facilitate more than 25,000 business meetings. She also announced that after Jodhpur, the next travel mart will be hosted in Udaipur and shared that the Tourism Department is working on a financial incentive policy to promote Shekhawati’s fresco heritage and homestays.

Mr. Surendra Singh Shahpura, President, FHTR, called for expanding Rajasthan’s tourism narrative beyond its iconic attractions by incorporating local fairs, festivals, polo heritage and emerging destinations into travel itineraries. He also advocated greater promotion of Tier-II and Tier-III destinations and highlighted the proposal to develop Bandikui as a Railway Heritage City.

Welcoming the guests, Mr Tarun Kumar Bansal, Secretary General, FHTR, shared that RDTM 2026 will bring together more than 300 tourism and hospitality stakeholders from across India, while the inaugural Marwar Travel Mart is expected to host around 125 participants, providing a dedicated platform to promote the tourism potential of the Marwar region.

Speaking about the new initiative, Mr. J. M. Boob, President, JHARA and Chairman, Marwar Travel Mart, said the event aims to showcase Marwar’s rich wildlife, handicrafts, culture, folk traditions and unique tourism experiences, creating new opportunities for the region’s tourism industry.

The event concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Mr Rajendra Singh Pachar, Senior Vice President, FHTR.