What is Rural Tourism?

Any form of tourism that showcases: the rural life, "art, culture and heritage at rural locations, thereby benefiting the local community economically; and socially as well; as enabling interaction between the tourists and the locals for a more enriching tourism experience can be termed as rural tourism. Rural tourism is essentially an activity which takes place in the countryside. It is multi-faceted and may entail farm/agricultural tourism, cultural tourism, nature tourism, adventure tourism, and eco-tourism. As against conventional tourism, rural tourism has certain typical characteristics like; it is experience oriented, the locations are sparsely populated, it is predominantly in natural environment, it meshes with seasonally and local events and is based on preservation of culture, heritage and traditions.

Importance of Rural Tourism

Tourism growth potential can be harnessed as a strategy for Rural Development. The development of a strong platform around the concept of Rural Tourism is definitely useful for a country like India, where almost 74% of the population resides in its 7 million villages. Across the world the trends of industrialization and development have had an urban centric approach. Alongside, the stresses of Urban lifestyles have led to "counter-urbanization" syndrome. This has led to growing interest in the rural areas. At the same time this trend of urbanization has led to falling income levels, lesser job opportunities in the total areas leading to an urbanization syndrome in the rural areas. Rural Tourism is one of the few activities which can provide a solution to these problems. Besides* there are other factors which are shifting the trend towards rural tourism like increasing levels of awareness, growing interest in heritage and culture and improved accessibility, and environmental consciousness. In the developed countries, this has resulted in a new style of tourism of visiting village settings to experience and live a relaxed and healthy lifestyle. This concept has taken the shape of a formal kind of Rural Tourism.

Under this Scheme, thrust will be. to promote village tourism as the primary tourism product to spread tourism and its socio-economic benefits to rural and its new geographic regions. Key geographic regions would be identified for development and promotion of Rural Tourism. The implementation would be done through a Convergence Committee leaded by the District Collector. Activities like improving the environment hygiene, infrastructure etc. would be eligible for assistance. Apart from providing financial assistance the focus would be to tap the resources available under different schemes of Deptt. of Rural Development, State Govts. and other concerned Departments of the Govt of India.

Identification of Villages

Each State/UT Govt. would be requested to furnish one proposal for promotion of Rural tourism. Based on the merits and after a joint inspection by the Deptt. of Tourism and the State/UT Govt. if required ten proposals would be identified for implementation in the country.

 

 

 

Permission Activities: The following works may be taken up under the scheme

• Improvement of the surroundings of the village. This would include activities like landscaping, development of parks, fencing, compound wall etc.
• Improvements to roads within the Panchayat limits. This shall not include major road which connects the village.
• Illumination in the village.
• Providing for improvement in solid waste management and sewerage management.
• Construction of Wayside Amenities.
• Procurement of equipments directly related to tourism, like Water Sports, Adventure Sports, Eco-friendly modes of transport for moving within the tourism zone.
• Refurbishment of the Monuments.
• Signages
• Reception
• Other work/activities directly related to tourism.
• Tourist Accommodation.