To promote and develop rural tourism in India, the Ministry of Tourism has launched the National Best Tourism Village Competition 2024 and the National Best Rural Homestay Competition 2024. These competitions aim to encourage healthy competitiveness among villages and rural homestays and to identify and reward outstanding contributions to rural tourism. The competitions will also incentivize communities and individuals to actively contribute to sustainable development goals.
The Ministry of Tourism has established the Central Nodal Agency Rural Tourism and Rural Homestay (CNA RT & RH) to effectively implement the initiatives for rural tourism. CNA RT & RH will conduct capacity-building sessions for states to create master trainers for the propagation of the competitions to the village level.
To foster collaboration and create a conducive environment for the growth of rural tourism, the Ministry has actively engaged governments, industry stakeholders, non-governmental organizations, and local communities through these competitions. This approach synergizes efforts to strengthen rural economies.
The National Best Tourism Village Competition 2023 recognized 35 villages across India in gold, silver, and bronze categories. To enhance rural tourism in India, the Ministry of Tourism also launched a comprehensive national strategy and roadmap for the development of rural tourism, along with the national strategy for the promotion of rural homestays.
The Ministry has initiated the implementation of these national strategies in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management. The competition will not only boost tourism in lesser-explored regions but also promote sustainable and responsible practices in the tourism sector. Applications for the competitions are open from November 15th to December 31st, 2023, and can be accessed through www.rural.tourism.gov.in.
