January 9, 2026 TnH Global

Hadoti’s Tourism Potential Takes Center Stage at First Kota Hadoti Travel Mart 2026

The Kota Hadoti Travel Mart (KHTM) 2026 commenced on a high note with a grand inaugural ceremony held at the iconic Chambal River Front, Kota. Organised by Rajasthan Tourism, Government of Rajasthan, in association with the Hotel Federation of Rajasthan – Kota Division, the Travel Mart was officially inaugurated by the Hon’ble Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Shri Om Birla, marking a significant step towards placing the Hadoti region on the global tourism map.

Inaugurating the event as Chief Guest, Shri Om Birla highlighted that the Hadoti region offers a rare confluence of heritage, natural beauty, and cultural richness, presenting immense untapped tourism potential. He extended a warm welcome to travel agents, tour operators, hoteliers, investors, and tourism stakeholders from across the country who had gathered to explore and experience the region’s diverse offerings.

Addressing the gathering, the Member of Parliament from Kota emphasised that Hadoti is home to magnificent forts, historic stepwells, architectural marvels, wildlife landscapes, and important religious sites, making it capable of attracting both domestic and international travellers. He specifically referenced key attractions such as the Chambal River Front and River Safari, Taragarh Fort in Bundi, Gagron Fort, and Shahabad Fort, noting that these landmarks have the potential to emerge as flagship tourism attractions.

Stressing the importance of sustained promotion, Shri Birla underlined that platforms like the Kota Hadoti Travel Mart play a pivotal role in ensuring continuous visibility, infrastructure development, and stakeholder engagement. He advocated for the Travel Mart to be organised annually to firmly establish Hadoti as a standalone destination of national and international significance.

Repositioning Hadoti as a Prime Tourism Circuit

The Travel Mart aims to reposition Hadoti—encompassing Kota, Bundi, Jhalawar, and Baran—as an independent tourism circuit rather than a peripheral extension of Rajasthan’s more established destinations. Despite its wealth of heritage, wildlife, art forms, and living traditions, the region has remained relatively under-explored, a gap the Travel Mart seeks to address.

Held over three days at Art Hill and Riverfront, Kota, KHTM 2026 featured a comprehensive programme including B2B exhibitions, curated networking sessions, destination experiences, heritage walks, cultural performances, and networking dinners, creating a dynamic platform for meaningful engagement between the travel trade, investors, and destination storytellers.

Strong Trade Participation and High-Level Support

The maiden edition of the Hadoti Travel Mart, held from January 2 to 4, 2026, marked a major milestone in regional tourism promotion. Led by the Hotel Federation of Rajasthan – Kota Division, with support from the Department of Tourism, Government of Rajasthan, the event hosted over 450 tour operators, travel professionals, media representatives, and influencers from across the country.
The inaugural ceremony at Shaurya Ghat, on the banks of the Chambal River, also witnessed the unveiling of a souvenir booklet titled Magical Hadoti by Shri Om Birla, followed by a spectacular fireworks display that lit up the Kota skyline.

A structured B2B Travel Mart, conducted on January 3 and 4 at Art Hill – Oxyzone City Park, facilitated focused business interactions between buyers and sellers. The B2B sessions were inaugurated by the Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Smt. Diya Kumari, who lit the traditional lamp in the presence of Shri Illyaraj Singh of Kota, senior office bearers of the Hotel Federation of Rajasthan, and representatives from allied organisations.

Event Highlights and Way Forward

The Kota Hadoti Travel Mart 2026 concluded on a high note, fostering meaningful dialogue, strengthening partnerships, and opening new avenues for tourism growth. The closing ceremony was graced by Shri Om Birla and the Hon’ble Union Minister for Tourism and Culture, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, along with Shri Onkar Singh Lakhawat, Chairman of the Dharohar Vikas Pradhikaran, and other senior dignitaries.

With strong institutional backing and growing industry participation, the Kota Hadoti Travel Mart 2026 stands as a decisive step towards sustainable tourism development, long-term destination branding, and global recognition for the Hadoti region.

Acknowledging the Organising Team

The successful planning and execution of the Kota Hadoti Travel Mart 2026 were made possible by the dedicated efforts of the Hotel Federation of Rajasthan – Kota Division. Under the leadership of Shri Ashok Maheshwari, President, with strategic support from Shri Sandeep Padia, General Secretary, and seamless coordination by Shri Anil Mundra, Co-ordinator, the organising team ensured a professionally managed and impactful event. Their collective commitment and organisational excellence played a key role in establishing KHTM 2026 as a landmark tourism initiative for the Hadoti region.