Tourists flock to Jaisalmer for end of year festivities

JAISALMER: Tourists are flocking in to celebrate Christmas and New Year in the desert district. Hotel room bookings are already full for the next 8-10 days. There has been a boom in tourism business in Jaisalmer after being connected with air service.

Looking at the high demands private airlines between Jodhpur, Surat, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Jaipur, Delhi from Jaisalmer have increased their fares to Rs 18,000 between Jaisalmer and Delhi and Rs 10,000 from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur.

Hotels have been decked with decorations and all trains coming to Jaisalmer are full due to large number of tourists, some of whom are also arriving by their own vehicles. The roads of the city appear small due to large number of vehicles.

Leading travel agents say that Delhi-Jaisalmer air travel is costing Rs 16,000 and Jaipur-Jaisalmer is Rs 12,000 whereas the scheduled fare was at Rs 3,029 and Rs 2,254. The fare has gone 4-5 times from scheduled rates. The same situation is in hotel fares. From December 20 to January 5, the rates are 3 to 4 times higher and there is a situation of no room in all small, big, budget and star-rated hotels.

Golden tourist association president and a hotelier Prithvi Raj said special arrangements have been made for tourists on the occasion of Christmas. Hotels have been decorated and special arrangements have been made for entertainment.

Hotelier Manvendra Singh said after starting of flight services there has been boom in tourism business. Many tourists have come for the first time after flight services, as they could not come earlier. Now many marriages and conferences are being organised after starting of the flight services. He said his hotel is totally sold out for the next few days.

Desert Spring owner Mayank said Jaisalmer is turning into the new wedding and conference destination. Royal weddings are taking place here. In January and February there are possibilities of big conferences and royal weddings and lot of inquiry is coming which is a good sign for Jaisalmer.

Mayank Bhatia owner of desert springs tent resort at Sam sand dunes said that looking to heavy demand to celebrate Christmas in the desert, menus have been made for continental, Chinese and Rajasthani food with arrangements for special camp fire.