How Rajasthan, Sikkim are opening new tourism frontiers, learning from one another

At the India Today Tourism Survey & Awards 2026, the states highlighted their repositioning beyond traditional travel destinations

Tourism leaders from Rajasthan and Sikkim, speaking at the India Today Tourism Survey & Awards 2026, held on June 14-15 at the Taj Cidade De Goa Heritage in Goa, outlined how the states are repositioning themselves beyond traditional attractions to appeal to changing traveller preferences while balancing sustainability, infrastructure and safety concerns.

Representing Sikkim, tourism minister Tshering Thendup Bhutia emphasised on sustainable and community-led tourism. He said tourism remains the backbone of Sikkim’s economy, with growing focus on rural tourism and homestays. The state has introduced strict environmental measures, including restrictions on plastic water bottles, mandatory garbage bags in tourist vehicles and extensive tree-plantation programmes.

Bhutia said Sikkim is consciously preventing large corporate groups from dominating rural homestays, preferring community ownership and local participation. He added that tourism benefits extend beyond accommodation providers to farmers, dairy producers and other local enterprises.

Shuchi Tyagi, secretary, department of tourism, arts and culture, Rajasthan, said the state is moving beyond its image of forts and palaces. Under Rajasthan’s 2025 tourism policy, the government is promoting wildlife tourism, desert safaris, astro-tourism, religious tourism and rural tourism. New tourism circuits, such as the Maharana Pratap Circuit, Pushkar Circuit and Thar Circuit, are being developed to diversify visitor experiences.

Tyagi said Rajasthan’s recently launched homestay policy aims to give tourists authentic rural experiences while generating local livelihoods. Around 1,000 homestays have already been registered, with police verification and safety protocols built into the registration process. She also highlighted efforts to promote lesser-known wedding destinations, such as Sawai Madhopur, Bundi, Barmer and the Shekhawati region, alongside established hubs like Jaipur and Udaipur.

Both speakers, taking part in the session ‘Building your state as a domestic and international tourism brand’, acknowledged challenges in attracting international tourists after the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent global uncertainties. Tyagi noted that while foreign arrivals have softened, Rajasthan recorded an 18 per cent rise in domestic tourism during the January-March period. Bhutia similarly observed that international tourist arrivals in Sikkim remain below pre-pandemic levels despite promotional efforts focused on adventure, wellness and agro-tourism.

The discussion also touched upon infrastructure bottlenecks. Bhutia said Sikkim is investing in parking facilities, border infrastructure and road connectivity to address congestion in popular destinations such as Nathula. Tyagi stressed that tourism development requires coordination across multiple departments and said major projects in Rajasthan are being closely monitored at the highest levels of government.

The session concluded with both states expressing interest in learning from each other—Sikkim admiring Rajasthan’s ability to package and showcase its culture and Rajasthan keen to replicate Sikkim’s successful homestay model.

FIVE KEY TAKEAWAYS

* Diversification is the new tourism mantra: Rajasthan is expanding beyond heritage tourism into wildlife, astro-tourism, religious tourism and rural experiences.

* Homestays are becoming central to tourism growth: Both states see community-based homestays as a way to distribute tourism benefits directly to residents.

* Sustainability is a competitive advantage: Sikkim’s strict environmental regulations and community participation models are pillars of its tourism brand.

* Domestic tourism is driving growth: With international arrivals yet to fully recover, states are increasingly relying on domestic travellers and new travel segments.

* Infrastructure and safety remain critical challenges.

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Published By:

Yashwardhan Singh

Published On:

Jun 19, 2026 19:02 IST