Regarding change of date of Pushkar Fair from 20-27 November to 14-20 November 2023.
27th October 2023
To All Members,
Dear Friends,
Sub: Regarding change of date of Pushkar Fair from 20-27 November to 14-20 November 2023.
As you are aware, dates for Pushkar Fair has been changed from 20-27 November to 14-20 November 2023 by the District Collector & Magistrate, Ajmer due to elections in Rajasthan on 25th November 2023. We ran from pillar to post and raised our concern with tourism department of Rajasthan, but it did not yield any result. We had no other option but to write to the Chief Election Commission of India to raise this issue.
A copy of the letter sent to Chief Election Commission with copy to all the concerned senior officials is attached for your reference where we have tried to justify our genuine request to strict to the original dates of Pushkar Fair i.e. 20th to 27th November 2023.
We shall keep you informed if there is any positive outcome.
Thanks and regards,
Rajiv Mehra
President
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27th October 2023
Mr. Rajiv Kumar
Chief Election Commissioner
Election Commission of India
Nirvachan Sadan
Ashoka Road
New Delhi 110001
Respected Sir,
Sub: Regarding change of date of Pushkar Fair from 20-27 November to 14-20 November, 2023
Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) is the national apex body of the tourism industry with membership of over 1800 members from all over the country. Our membership consists of all segments of the tourism industry like tour operators, travel agents, hotels, airlines, government tourism departments/ development corporations, educational institutions, transport operators and travel press and media. All our active members are recognized by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and doing inbound tourism business and bring foreign tourists to India from all over the world. They earn valuable foreign exchange for the country and generate employment every nook and corner of the country. Membership of IATO controls over 90% of all inbound tourism into India.
Sir, as you are aware, the Pushkar Fair (Pushkar Camel Fair) or Pushkar Mela, is an annual event held in Ajmer between the months of October and November starting one week before the Kartik Purnima/Guru Nanak Birthday. It is one of the world's largest cattle fairs, which attracts large number of foreign tourists from all over the world and it has become an important tourist attraction for them.
Dates for Pushkar Fair are announced year in advance and based on the same our members print their brochures and promote the same in their itineraries for foreign tourists. They sign contract with their foreign travel agents/tour operators. For this year Pushkar Fair dates are 20th to 27th November and accordingly our members printed the brochures for foreign travel agents/tour operators and booked tour of foreign tourists and made all the arrangements. They have made advance payments to the hotels, transport operators and other service providers based on the confirmed bookings.
Now due to the elections being held in Rajasthan on 25th November, 2023, the District Collector & Magistrate, Ajmer has issued orders and has changed the dates of Pushkar Fair from 20-27 November to 14-20 November 2023. This change in date of Pushkar Fair have put our members into serious trouble as they have already made arrangements for the foreign tourists as per the original dates announced an year ago and have made payments to the hotels. Foreign Tourists have also booked their international flight tickets for travel to India accordingly. Now it is not possible for our members to tell the foreign tour operators to change the date. If we refuse providing the committed services to the foreign tourists, they will sue their foreign tour operators and in turn foreign tour operators will sue Indian tour operators in the court of law as consumer laws in foreign countries are very stringent.
Sir, I would also like to mention that having elections during the Pushkar Fair will actually be an added advantage for our members to show to the foreign tourists the exemplary Democratic Election Process in India which is the desire of our Hon’ble Prime Minister also.
If we cannot organize The Puskhar Fair during the elections it will give a negative feeling amongst the foreign tour operators/foreign tourists that we are not capable to handle it.
May I, therefore, request you to kindly give your directives that dates for Pushkar Fair should not be changed and Fair should be held as per the original dates i.e. from 20-27 November, 2023
Sir, it is requested that the decision should be taken by 30th October 2023, so that we can inform our foreign counterparts accordingly and those who want to cancel their trip to India, they can do it, which will be big revenue loss for the country and also for the Rajasthan Government besides court cases.
We look forward to your favourable response to support the tourism industry.
Thanking you and with best regards,
Sincerely,
Rajiv Mehra
President
(M) 98110 63134
Copy to:-
Mrs. V. Vidyavathi, IAS, Secretary (Tourism), Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
Ms. Gayatri Rathore, IAS, Principal Secretary Tourism, Art & Culture, Government of Rajasthan
Dr. Rashmi Sharma, IAS, Director Tourism, Government of Rajasthan
Mr. Narayan Singh, IAS, Secretary, State Election Commission, 2nd Floor, Development Block, Secretariat, Jaipur
Mr. Praveen Gupta, IAS, Chief Electoral Officer, Rajasthan, Room no.-5208, Main Building, Secretariat, Jaipur
Ms. Bharti Dixit, IAS, District Collector and Magistrate, Ajmer, Govt. of Rajasthan