How the Rajasthan government is exploiting elephants in the desert

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Elephants accrue fat earnings to tourism-driven Rajasthan

 

By Lokendra Singh

 

Amer Fort (Rajasthan), Feb 6 (ANI): The hugely popular elephant rides at a

centuries-old Amer Fort in Rajasthan are turning into a prime foreign

exchange earner for the state.

 

At a hefty US 12.5 per dollar ride according to local standards, it's

actually too little a price to pay for something so uniquely Indian.

 

At least, hoards of foreign tourists, who arrive at the Amer Fort, seem to

think so.

 

For tourists, the serpentine paths that lead to the top of the majestic fort

are best covered on elephant-back, a novelty unavailable in most western

countries.

 

" I like elephants. I think elephant ride would add to the trip and make it

more exciting and romantic. It is really good and I like elephants, " said

Victoria, a tourist from England.

 

Tourists like Victoria make the recent tourist season a success,

contributing record earnings from the stately pachyderms.

 

The Rajasthan Tourism Department has recorded 30 percent more income as

compared to last year.

 

" This year, we have tried to make the system more organised and systematic.

This is a main attraction for foreign tourists by the Rajasthan tourism

department. As compared to last year, this was a good year business wise.

The state got a total revenue of 4 crore 72 lakhs from elephant rides alone.

The rotations also increased to 17,000 rides from last year. This is a good

outcome to our policy, " said Urmila Rajoria, Additional Director of

Rajasthan Tourism.

 

Currently, there are 110 elephants employed at the Fort, with 96 working at

any given time.

 

According to figures, each elephant has earned 500,000 rupees each, higher

than last year.

 

This has happened despite a cap placed by the state administration on the

number of rides undertaken by elephants.

 

Unlimited rides have now been capped and each elephant undertakes only a

limited number of rides.

 

Elephants are not native to the desert state and were introduced centuries

back by the erstwhile Rajput rulers.

 

The elephant ride, an integral part of the tourist itinerary, was introduced

way back in 1953 with a single elephant.

 

The 16th-century Amer Fort, a few miles from Jaipur, is a hot tourist

destination for thousands of domestic and foreign visitors. (ANI)