Of the 10,92,04,101 tourist visits recorded during the six-month period, 10,83,59,405 were domestic visits, while 8,44,696 were by foreign tourists.
The numbers indicate that domestic tourism remains the mainstay of Rajasthan’s tourism sector, even as the state’s heritage cities, wildlife destinations and desert tourism circuits continue to draw international travellers.
The state government has been seeking to expand tourism in line with the Centre’s ‘Dekho Apna Desh’ initiative, while Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister and Tourism Minister Diya Kumari has identified increasing the state’s presence in domestic as well as international tourism markets as a key priority.
“The strong volume of domestic tourist visits reflects the popularity of Rajasthan’s diverse tourism experiences across different regions, while the steady presence of international visitors reinforces the state’s position on the global tourism map,” Ajay Sharma, Joint Director, Marketing, Department of Tourism, Rajasthan, said.
Sikar tops domestic tourism chart
Among districts, Sikar recorded the highest domestic tourist footfall at 1.56 crore visits during January-June 2026.
It was followed by Chittorgarh with 1.34 crore visits and Jaisalmer with 1.18 crore visits.
Other major domestic tourism destinations included Ajmer with 99.28 lakh visits, Jaipur with 81.49 lakh, Karauli with 64 lakh, Sawai Madhopur with 61.88 lakh, Sirohi with 61.14 lakh, Udaipur with 47.61 lakh and Churu with 34.09 lakh visits.
Tourism officials said the spread of tourist traffic across districts reflects the diversity of Rajasthan’s tourism market rather than dependence on a handful of major cities.
Sikar and Karauli have a strong religious tourism base, while Chittorgarh draws visitors for its historical and heritage attractions. Sawai Madhopur is anchored by wildlife tourism, particularly Ranthambore, while Jaisalmer benefits from its desert and heritage experiences. Sirohi and Udaipur, meanwhile, combine natural landscapes, religious destinations, heritage properties and cultural tourism.
Jaipur remains top destination for foreign tourists
Jaipur emerged as Rajasthan’s biggest destination for international travellers, recording 2,56,293 foreign tourist visits during the first half of the year.
It was followed by Udaipur with 1,84,045 foreign visits, Jodhpur with 82,846 and Jaisalmer with 66,433.
Sawai Madhopur recorded 38,542 foreign tourist visits, followed by Ajmer at 36,406, Dausa at 36,116, Pali at 28,982, Jhunjhunu at 23,567 and Bikaner at 22,215. The pattern suggests that Rajasthan’s established heritage circuit continues to dominate the international market.
Jaipur’s forts, palaces and historic architecture, Udaipur’s lakes and royal heritage, Jodhpur’s Marwar legacy and Jaisalmer’s desert landscape remain key attractions for overseas visitors.
Sawai Madhopur’s presence among the leading destinations also points to the importance of wildlife tourism in attracting international travellers.
Dausa, Jhunjhunu gain visibility among overseas visitors
The entry of Dausa and Jhunjhunu among the top 10 districts for foreign tourist visits indicates growing international interest beyond Rajasthan’s traditional tourism centres.
Dausa is home to Chand Baori at Abhaneri, one of India’s best-known stepwells, as well as the Harshat Mata Temple. Chand Baori’s distinctive architecture has given the destination considerable visibility among international heritage travellers.
Jhunjhunu forms part of the Shekhawati region, known for its frescoed havelis and traditional architecture.
“The state’s heritage is spread across different regions, offering international travellers a wide range of cultural, architectural and historical experiences,” Sharma said.
Hadoti records over 24 lakh visits
The Kota-Hadoti region, comprising Kota, Bundi, Baran and Jhalawar, recorded more than 24 lakh tourist visits during January-June.
February was the strongest month for the region, recording 5,14,132 visits, followed by January at 4,23,413 and March at 4,11,863. The region’s tourism offering combines Bundi’s forts and palaces, Jhalawar’s heritage and cultural sites, Kota’s attractions and several religious and nature-based destinations.
Tourism officials said initiatives such as the Kota-Hadoti Travel Mart have also sought to increase engagement between tourism businesses and travel operators and improve the region’s visibility in the domestic market.
Marwar maintains strong tourism base
The Marwar region also maintained a significant presence across domestic and international tourism markets.
Jodhpur received 82,846 foreign tourist visits, while Pali recorded 28,982 foreign visits during the six-month period.
Domestic tourist movement was also recorded across Jodhpur, Pali, Barmer, Jalore, Nagaur and Balotra, with January emerging as the strongest month for tourist footfall in the Marwar region during the first half of 2026.
Officials said Jodhpur’s established international profile, combined with rural tourism, local traditions, architecture and cultural heritage across neighbouring districts, gives Marwar a broader tourism proposition.
The first-half data shows that Rajasthan’s tourism traffic is increasingly spread across a mix of religious centres, historic cities, wildlife destinations, desert regions and lesser-known heritage locations, even as domestic tourism continues to contribute the bulk of overall visitor numbers.
Follow BOTT on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter & Instagram
Subscribe BOTT Channels on WhatsApp & Telegram to receive real time updates
