24th October 2023

To All Members,

Dear Friends,

Sub: Regarding Exorbitant increase for Elephant Safari at Amer Fort.

This is with reference to exorbitant increase for elephant safari at Amer Fort, which was later withdrawn by the Rajasthan Government on our request.

Now, we understand that the members of the Elephant Owner Association are insisting on increasing the elephant ride fees from tomorrow, 25th October to Rs. 3500/- from Rs. 1100, which we have strongly objected and have taken up the matter with the Chief Secretary, Government of Rajasthan, Principal Secretary Tourism and Art & Culture, Government of Rajasthan and other senior officials of the concerned departments. A copy of the letter which we have written to the Chief Secretary, Government of Rajasthan is enclosed for your reference.

Though it is a holiday, our Chapter Chairman of Rajasthan Mr. Bhim Singh ji, Co-Chairman - Mr. Mahendra Singh, and Hony. Secretary, RATO – Mr. Mohan Singh are in touch with the Rajasthan Government officials and we are emphasizing that this increase should not be implemented from tomorrow and a meeting should be called to decide on the increase.

Above is for your advance information.

With regards,

Rajiv Mehra

President

……………..

Respected Madam,

Sub: Regarding Exorbitant increase for Elephant Safari at Amer Fort

This is with reference to our trailing email communication regarding the exorbitant increase for elephant safari at Amer Fort which was later withdrawn with your personal intervention earlier this month.

I am taking this liberty of writing to you again as Respected Mrs. Gayatri Rathore, Principal Secretary, Tourism & Art & Culture, Govt. of Rajasthan is out of India.  We understand that the members of the elephant owner association are insisting on increasing the elephant ride fees from tomorrow, 25th October to Rs. 3500/- from Rs. 1100, which we strongly object to, as it would be in direct contradiction to the government's order.We also understand that the  Mr. Mahendra Khadgawat, IAS, Director, Archaeology and Museum, Government of Rajasthan is also in support of the elephant owner association to increase and implement the new fees from tomorrow onwards, which is totally unethical and against the government order. This will jeopardize all our efforts to promote tourism to India and especially to Rajasthan.

Madam, as I mentioned earlier, we are not against the increase, but it should be rational with sufficient advance notice to the industry so that we can accordingly send our quotations to the foreign tour operators.

May I request you to kindly give your directives to all the concerned departments, not to make any increase from tomorrow and the present fee of. Rs. 1100/- is to be charged till the time a meeting is called with the stakeholders to decide on the increase.

Your help in the matter would be highly appreciated.

I sincerely regret to disturb your good-self on holiday for this urgent issue.  

Thanking you in anticipation and with best regards,

Sincerely,

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