Jaipur, April 20 (IANS): Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on Sunday said the state expects a "quantum" jump in tourist arrivals by 2018.

Inaugurating the 8th edition of the Great Indian Travel Bazaar (GITB) here, Raje said: "We expect a quantum jump in the tourist arrivals -- with foreign tourists going up from 1.5 million to 2.5 million and domestic tourists from 33 million to 50 million by 2018."

Being organised by the Department of Tourism, government of Rajasthan, the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the GITB, an international mart, is being held from April 19 to 21.

Is is supported by tourism bodies like IHHA, HRAR, RATO and other tourism organisations.

"It is really heartening to note that as many as 10,000 pre-structured, pre-scheduled meetings will be held during the next two-days," she said.

"I hope that the foreign tour operators attending the event will give their valuable inputs and suggestions for improved tourism products in the country," the chief minister said, adding that the Tourism Unit Policy would be announced soon in Rajasthan which will give a boost to tourism sector in the state.

The chief minister, on this occasion, said the tourism sector would be an important part of business for Resurgent Rajasthan scheduled to be held in November in Jaipur this year.

She invited investment for new hotels, new circuits and tourism related infrastructure.

In her welcome address, Jyotsna Suri, national president of FICCI, said e-visa for 43 countries is "already operational while 150 countries are in the pipeline".

"This, would give a huge fillip to the tourism in this country," she said.

A total of 277 foreign buyers from 45 countries and 199 exhibitors, spread over 253 booths, are participating in this event.

In two days, the GITB 2015 will witness more than 10,000 pre-scheduled, structured B2B meetings.