Tourist access to Jaisalmer’s Sam Sand Dunes has been restricted after sunset, with night camel safaris, sightseeing and other tourism activities barred in designated dune areas of the Desert National Park. The forest department has also prohibited laser lights at nighttime cultural events in the Sam and Kanoi areas, citing risks to wildlife and the fragile desert ecosystem.
The restrictions were communicated to the Jaisalmer Hotel Association by Ajgar Ali, regional forest officer (Tourism and Wildlife), Jaisalmer. Hotels, camel safari operators and other tourism stakeholders have been directed to ensure strict compliance, with the department warning that action would be taken against violators.
The order affects one of Jaisalmer’s most prominent tourism zones, where visitors are offered camel safaris, dune sightseeing and cultural programmes. Under the new restrictions, these activities cannot continue in designated dune areas after sunset. The department’s directions also cover hotels and tourism operators located in and around Sam and Kanoi.
The forest department said waste disposal had become a further concern in the protected area. Some hotels in Sam and Kanoi were found to be dumping waste within the sanctuary area, while tourists visiting the dunes were found leaving plastic bags, glass bottles and other garbage behind. The department said such waste posed a threat to wildlife and the natural environment.
Hotel operators have been instructed to establish proper waste disposal practices, prevent visitors from littering and sensitise guests about keeping the dunes clean. They have also been told not to allow plastic bags, glass bottles or other forms of garbage to be discarded in the desert.
The department termed waste dumping in the protected area a violation of directions issued by the National Green Tribunal. The reference places responsibility not only on individual visitors but also on tourism businesses operating around the protected landscape, making waste management part of the compliance requirements for the sector.
Laser lights have separately been prohibited during nighttime cultural programmes at hotels in the Sam and Kanoi areas. According to the forest department, the lights could disturb wild animals and affect their natural habitat. The restriction therefore extends beyond the dunes themselves to activities hosted by hotels near the protected area.
Ali said compliance was essential to conserve the Desert National Park’s fragile ecosystem and protect wildlife habitats. The immediate next step is for hotels, camel safari operators and other tourism stakeholders to implement the department’s directions, including the sunset closure of designated dune areas, the ban on night tourism activities and the required waste-control measures.
