Cultural Tourism-Based Regional Development in Rajasthan, India

Abstract

Tourism at present is considered the largest and fastest growing industry. It is increasingly acquiring organized form and seen as multi-dimensional; hence, viewed as possessing huge potential in terms of future development. The available literature also highlights its role in the promotion of faster, sustainable and inclusive regional development focusing on poor sections and local areas. Though there is a rich typology of tourism today, cultural tourism is considered important across the world as it contributes to the gross tourism income substantially. The cultural potential of a region is therefore crucial in this regard which meaningfully connects the past with the present in a particular geographical setting containing both natural and cultural elements. The present chapter makes an attempt to analyse the status and potential of cultural tourism in the context of regional development of Rajasthan. This western state of India is gifted with a rich and long history and a vast pool of diverse cultural heritage as well as natural resources which could be used to develop the region by promoting it as a globally competitive tourist destination. The Rajasthani culture has two levels—folk and royal—manifested in different forms. The former offers traditional textiles, handicraft, paintings, music, dance, cuisines, and the latter has forts, magnificent palaces, beautiful gardens, etc. to the tourists.