Page 1
A Journal on Rural Development
Vol. 70 No. 8 Pages 52
June 2022
Kurukshetra
Kurukshetra seeks to carry the message of Rural Development to all people. It serves as a forum for free, frank and serious discussion on the problems of Rural
Development with special focus on Rural Uplift.
The views expressed by the authors in the articles are their own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government or the organisations they work for.
The readers are requested to verify the claims in the advertisements regarding career guidance books/institutions. Kurukshetra does not own responsibility. Maps
used are for illustration & study purpose and may not strictly conform to the official map. Images, graphics and illustrations, wherever used, are mostly sourced from
government channels and are indicative in nature. Final Editing rights will vest with Kurukshetra Team.
Sales Emporia : ? Delhi - BM (I/c), Publications Division, CGO Complex, Soochna Bhavan, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003 (011-24365609);
Hall No. 196, Old Secretariat, Delhi 110054 (011-23890205) ? Kolkata - BM (I/c), Publications Division, 8, Esplanade East, Kolkata-700069
(033-22482576) ? Mumbai - BM (I/c), Publications Division, 701, C-Wing, 7th Floor, Kendriya Sadan, Belapur, Navi Mumbai-400614
(022-27570686) ? Chennai - BM (I/c), Publications Division, ‘A’ Wing, Rajaji Bhawan, Besant Nagar, Chennai - 600090 (044-24917673)
? Thiruvananthapuram - BM, Publications Division, Press Road, Near Govt. Press, Thiruvananthpuram - 6950001 (0471-2330650)
? Hyderabad - BM, Publications Division, Room No. 204, 2nd Floor, C.G.O. Towers, Kavadiguda, Hyderabad-500080 (040-27535383)
? Bengaluru - BM (I/c), Sales Unit, Floor, ‘F’ Wing, Kendriya Sadan, Koramangala, Bengaluru - 560034 (080-25537244)
? Patna - BM, Publications Division, Bihar State Co-operative, Bank Building, Ashoka Rajpath, Patna-800004 (0612-2675823)
? Lucknow - BM, Publications Division, Hall No. 1, 2nd Floor, Kendriya Bhawan, sector – H, Aliganj, Lucknow - 226024 (0522-2325455)
? Ahmedabad - Sales Unit, Publications Division, 4-C, Neptune Tower, 4th Floor, Nr HP Petrol Pump, Nehru Bridge Corner, Ashram Road,
Ahmedabad Gujarat -380009 (079-26588669) ? Guwahati - Publications Division, Assam Khadi and Village Industries Board, Ground
Floor, MRD Road, Chandmari, Guwahati - 781003 (0361- 2668237/2664613)
CONTENT
? Rural Tourism: India an Incredible
Tourism Destination
Avinash Mishra
Madhubanti Dutta 5
EDITOR
Shiela Chaudhary
Pankhuri Awasthi
JOINT DIRECTOR (PRODUCTION)
D.K.C. Hrudhainath
COVER DESIGN
Rajender Kumar
EDITORIAL OFFICE
Room No. 653,
Publications Division,
Soochna Bhawan, C.G.O. Complex,
Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003
Phone : 011-24362859
Email : kurukshetrajournal@gmail.com
For Subscription Enquiries,
Grievances, Renewals and Agency
Information, Please Contact:
Journals Unit
Publications Division, Room No. 779,
Soochna Bhawan, C.G.O. Complex,
Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110 003
(Monday-Friday, 9:30 AM-6:00 PM)
TELE : 24367453 FAX: 24365610
Email : pdjucir@gmail.com
Website : publicationsdivision.nic.in
@publicationsdivision
@DPD_India
@dpd_India
For Online Sale, please log on to
bharatkosh.gov.in/product, and for
e-books, please visit Google Play,
Kobo or Amazon.
Subscription* :
Inland
1 Year : ` 230
2 Years : ` 430
3 Years : ` 610
Abroad (Air Mail)
One Year
` 530 (SAARC Countries)
` 730 (Other Countries)
* Revised from April 2016
Issue Onwards
? Development of Rural Tourism
Ganji Kamala Vardhana Rao 11
? Rural Tourism-Culture and Heritage
Hemanth Menon 16
? North-eastern India- A Tourism
Paradise
Dr. Tapati Baruah Kashyap 21
? Tourism in Jammu and Kashmir
Irtif Lone 27
? Tourism for AatmaNirbhar Bharat
Dr. Namrata Singh Panwar 32
? Tourism Infrastructure Development
Dr. Suyash Yadav 38
? Reviving Tourism post COVID-19
Pandemic
Bhavya Tyagi and Karishma Sharma 45
Page 2
A Journal on Rural Development
Vol. 70 No. 8 Pages 52
June 2022
Kurukshetra
Kurukshetra seeks to carry the message of Rural Development to all people. It serves as a forum for free, frank and serious discussion on the problems of Rural
Development with special focus on Rural Uplift.
The views expressed by the authors in the articles are their own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government or the organisations they work for.
The readers are requested to verify the claims in the advertisements regarding career guidance books/institutions. Kurukshetra does not own responsibility. Maps
used are for illustration & study purpose and may not strictly conform to the official map. Images, graphics and illustrations, wherever used, are mostly sourced from
government channels and are indicative in nature. Final Editing rights will vest with Kurukshetra Team.
Sales Emporia : ? Delhi - BM (I/c), Publications Division, CGO Complex, Soochna Bhavan, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003 (011-24365609);
Hall No. 196, Old Secretariat, Delhi 110054 (011-23890205) ? Kolkata - BM (I/c), Publications Division, 8, Esplanade East, Kolkata-700069
(033-22482576) ? Mumbai - BM (I/c), Publications Division, 701, C-Wing, 7th Floor, Kendriya Sadan, Belapur, Navi Mumbai-400614
(022-27570686) ? Chennai - BM (I/c), Publications Division, ‘A’ Wing, Rajaji Bhawan, Besant Nagar, Chennai - 600090 (044-24917673)
? Thiruvananthapuram - BM, Publications Division, Press Road, Near Govt. Press, Thiruvananthpuram - 6950001 (0471-2330650)
? Hyderabad - BM, Publications Division, Room No. 204, 2nd Floor, C.G.O. Towers, Kavadiguda, Hyderabad-500080 (040-27535383)
? Bengaluru - BM (I/c), Sales Unit, Floor, ‘F’ Wing, Kendriya Sadan, Koramangala, Bengaluru - 560034 (080-25537244)
? Patna - BM, Publications Division, Bihar State Co-operative, Bank Building, Ashoka Rajpath, Patna-800004 (0612-2675823)
? Lucknow - BM, Publications Division, Hall No. 1, 2nd Floor, Kendriya Bhawan, sector – H, Aliganj, Lucknow - 226024 (0522-2325455)
? Ahmedabad - Sales Unit, Publications Division, 4-C, Neptune Tower, 4th Floor, Nr HP Petrol Pump, Nehru Bridge Corner, Ashram Road,
Ahmedabad Gujarat -380009 (079-26588669) ? Guwahati - Publications Division, Assam Khadi and Village Industries Board, Ground
Floor, MRD Road, Chandmari, Guwahati - 781003 (0361- 2668237/2664613)
CONTENT
? Rural Tourism: India an Incredible
Tourism Destination
Avinash Mishra
Madhubanti Dutta 5
EDITOR
Shiela Chaudhary
Pankhuri Awasthi
JOINT DIRECTOR (PRODUCTION)
D.K.C. Hrudhainath
COVER DESIGN
Rajender Kumar
EDITORIAL OFFICE
Room No. 653,
Publications Division,
Soochna Bhawan, C.G.O. Complex,
Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003
Phone : 011-24362859
Email : kurukshetrajournal@gmail.com
For Subscription Enquiries,
Grievances, Renewals and Agency
Information, Please Contact:
Journals Unit
Publications Division, Room No. 779,
Soochna Bhawan, C.G.O. Complex,
Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110 003
(Monday-Friday, 9:30 AM-6:00 PM)
TELE : 24367453 FAX: 24365610
Email : pdjucir@gmail.com
Website : publicationsdivision.nic.in
@publicationsdivision
@DPD_India
@dpd_India
For Online Sale, please log on to
bharatkosh.gov.in/product, and for
e-books, please visit Google Play,
Kobo or Amazon.
Subscription* :
Inland
1 Year : ` 230
2 Years : ` 430
3 Years : ` 610
Abroad (Air Mail)
One Year
` 530 (SAARC Countries)
` 730 (Other Countries)
* Revised from April 2016
Issue Onwards
? Development of Rural Tourism
Ganji Kamala Vardhana Rao 11
? Rural Tourism-Culture and Heritage
Hemanth Menon 16
? North-eastern India- A Tourism
Paradise
Dr. Tapati Baruah Kashyap 21
? Tourism in Jammu and Kashmir
Irtif Lone 27
? Tourism for AatmaNirbhar Bharat
Dr. Namrata Singh Panwar 32
? Tourism Infrastructure Development
Dr. Suyash Yadav 38
? Reviving Tourism post COVID-19
Pandemic
Bhavya Tyagi and Karishma Sharma 45
Kurukshetra June 2022 4
Overtourism, a newly coined word, influenced by mass culture means a
very high number of people visiting a few tourist destinations, which suffer from
the excessive presence of tourism such as Shimla and Goa. Overtourism has
consequences like destruction of natural ecosystem, increase in the amount of
waste, inflation, migration of residents and so on. The most preferable solution to
this problem is a shift towards eco tourism or rural tourism—a fast growing industry
focused on conservation of nature and local livelihood creation. Rural Tourism can
provide boost to the tourism industry and help recover the post pandemic setback.
Therefore, the theme of this issue of Kurukshetra is Rural Tourism.
India’s strength lies in her villages as a large fraction of our population (69
percent) lives in rural areas and rural economy contributes about 46 percent
towards the national income and 25-30 percent of India's GDP. Therefore, tourism
in rural areas has a high potential to stimulate local economic growth and social
change. Rural Tourism is one of the Niche Tourism Products/sectors promoted by
the Ministry of Tourism.
According to our lead article Rural Tourism: India an Incredible Tourism
Destination, tourism acts as a catalyst for the economic growth of a country. It
throws a light upon the importance of tourism with a special focus on rural tourism.
It states that India's rural areas have a lot to offer to the rest of the world. Rural
India, which is rich in arts, crafts, and culture, has the potential to become a tourist
hotspot. If the concept of rural tourism is well-marketed, those in the developed
world, particularly millennials who are fascinated by traditional ways of life, arts,
and crafts will be drawn to visit rural India.
The article Development of Rural Tourism delves into various schemes and
programmes undertaken by the Government of India to promote and develop rural
tourism. It states that rural tourism is an opportunity to promote sustainable and
responsible tourism.
Pilgrimages were the first forms of tourism mobility to emerge thousands of
years ago. The article Rural Tourism-Culture and Heritage provides us a glimpse of
rural tourism through the lens of culture and heritage. According to it even today, a
lot of tourism-related development in India revolves around pilgrimages, amongst
other factors of interest.
India’s North-eastern region is a paradise for tourists from all over the world.
The seven states are full of beautiful places that attract tourists during any time of
the year. The article North-eastern India- A Tourism Paradise takes us on a journey
of the seven sister states beautifully. It contains the description of prominent tourist
places of seven north-eastern states.
The article Tourism Infrastructure Development introduces us to the 3 “A”
Approach of tourism infrastructure development. It states that there can be no
tourism without a destination. For a destination to develop and sustain itself, the
3 ‘A’s are fundamentally important. These three A’s have to be present in sync for
any form of tourism to thrive, including rural tourism. An attempt has been made to
co-relate the ‘A’s with Rural Tourism. An article on Reviving Tourism post COVID-19
Pandemic has also been included in this issue.
We hope our readers find information provided through various write-ups on
Rural Tourism valuable, interesting and insightful. We wish our readers a happy
reading. Stay safe.
Page 3
A Journal on Rural Development
Vol. 70 No. 8 Pages 52
June 2022
Kurukshetra
Kurukshetra seeks to carry the message of Rural Development to all people. It serves as a forum for free, frank and serious discussion on the problems of Rural
Development with special focus on Rural Uplift.
The views expressed by the authors in the articles are their own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government or the organisations they work for.
The readers are requested to verify the claims in the advertisements regarding career guidance books/institutions. Kurukshetra does not own responsibility. Maps
used are for illustration & study purpose and may not strictly conform to the official map. Images, graphics and illustrations, wherever used, are mostly sourced from
government channels and are indicative in nature. Final Editing rights will vest with Kurukshetra Team.
Sales Emporia : ? Delhi - BM (I/c), Publications Division, CGO Complex, Soochna Bhavan, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003 (011-24365609);
Hall No. 196, Old Secretariat, Delhi 110054 (011-23890205) ? Kolkata - BM (I/c), Publications Division, 8, Esplanade East, Kolkata-700069
(033-22482576) ? Mumbai - BM (I/c), Publications Division, 701, C-Wing, 7th Floor, Kendriya Sadan, Belapur, Navi Mumbai-400614
(022-27570686) ? Chennai - BM (I/c), Publications Division, ‘A’ Wing, Rajaji Bhawan, Besant Nagar, Chennai - 600090 (044-24917673)
? Thiruvananthapuram - BM, Publications Division, Press Road, Near Govt. Press, Thiruvananthpuram - 6950001 (0471-2330650)
? Hyderabad - BM, Publications Division, Room No. 204, 2nd Floor, C.G.O. Towers, Kavadiguda, Hyderabad-500080 (040-27535383)
? Bengaluru - BM (I/c), Sales Unit, Floor, ‘F’ Wing, Kendriya Sadan, Koramangala, Bengaluru - 560034 (080-25537244)
? Patna - BM, Publications Division, Bihar State Co-operative, Bank Building, Ashoka Rajpath, Patna-800004 (0612-2675823)
? Lucknow - BM, Publications Division, Hall No. 1, 2nd Floor, Kendriya Bhawan, sector – H, Aliganj, Lucknow - 226024 (0522-2325455)
? Ahmedabad - Sales Unit, Publications Division, 4-C, Neptune Tower, 4th Floor, Nr HP Petrol Pump, Nehru Bridge Corner, Ashram Road,
Ahmedabad Gujarat -380009 (079-26588669) ? Guwahati - Publications Division, Assam Khadi and Village Industries Board, Ground
Floor, MRD Road, Chandmari, Guwahati - 781003 (0361- 2668237/2664613)
CONTENT
? Rural Tourism: India an Incredible
Tourism Destination
Avinash Mishra
Madhubanti Dutta 5
EDITOR
Shiela Chaudhary
Pankhuri Awasthi
JOINT DIRECTOR (PRODUCTION)
D.K.C. Hrudhainath
COVER DESIGN
Rajender Kumar
EDITORIAL OFFICE
Room No. 653,
Publications Division,
Soochna Bhawan, C.G.O. Complex,
Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003
Phone : 011-24362859
Email : kurukshetrajournal@gmail.com
For Subscription Enquiries,
Grievances, Renewals and Agency
Information, Please Contact:
Journals Unit
Publications Division, Room No. 779,
Soochna Bhawan, C.G.O. Complex,
Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110 003
(Monday-Friday, 9:30 AM-6:00 PM)
TELE : 24367453 FAX: 24365610
Email : pdjucir@gmail.com
Website : publicationsdivision.nic.in
@publicationsdivision
@DPD_India
@dpd_India
For Online Sale, please log on to
bharatkosh.gov.in/product, and for
e-books, please visit Google Play,
Kobo or Amazon.
Subscription* :
Inland
1 Year : ` 230
2 Years : ` 430
3 Years : ` 610
Abroad (Air Mail)
One Year
` 530 (SAARC Countries)
` 730 (Other Countries)
* Revised from April 2016
Issue Onwards
? Development of Rural Tourism
Ganji Kamala Vardhana Rao 11
? Rural Tourism-Culture and Heritage
Hemanth Menon 16
? North-eastern India- A Tourism
Paradise
Dr. Tapati Baruah Kashyap 21
? Tourism in Jammu and Kashmir
Irtif Lone 27
? Tourism for AatmaNirbhar Bharat
Dr. Namrata Singh Panwar 32
? Tourism Infrastructure Development
Dr. Suyash Yadav 38
? Reviving Tourism post COVID-19
Pandemic
Bhavya Tyagi and Karishma Sharma 45
Kurukshetra June 2022 4
Overtourism, a newly coined word, influenced by mass culture means a
very high number of people visiting a few tourist destinations, which suffer from
the excessive presence of tourism such as Shimla and Goa. Overtourism has
consequences like destruction of natural ecosystem, increase in the amount of
waste, inflation, migration of residents and so on. The most preferable solution to
this problem is a shift towards eco tourism or rural tourism—a fast growing industry
focused on conservation of nature and local livelihood creation. Rural Tourism can
provide boost to the tourism industry and help recover the post pandemic setback.
Therefore, the theme of this issue of Kurukshetra is Rural Tourism.
India’s strength lies in her villages as a large fraction of our population (69
percent) lives in rural areas and rural economy contributes about 46 percent
towards the national income and 25-30 percent of India's GDP. Therefore, tourism
in rural areas has a high potential to stimulate local economic growth and social
change. Rural Tourism is one of the Niche Tourism Products/sectors promoted by
the Ministry of Tourism.
According to our lead article Rural Tourism: India an Incredible Tourism
Destination, tourism acts as a catalyst for the economic growth of a country. It
throws a light upon the importance of tourism with a special focus on rural tourism.
It states that India's rural areas have a lot to offer to the rest of the world. Rural
India, which is rich in arts, crafts, and culture, has the potential to become a tourist
hotspot. If the concept of rural tourism is well-marketed, those in the developed
world, particularly millennials who are fascinated by traditional ways of life, arts,
and crafts will be drawn to visit rural India.
The article Development of Rural Tourism delves into various schemes and
programmes undertaken by the Government of India to promote and develop rural
tourism. It states that rural tourism is an opportunity to promote sustainable and
responsible tourism.
Pilgrimages were the first forms of tourism mobility to emerge thousands of
years ago. The article Rural Tourism-Culture and Heritage provides us a glimpse of
rural tourism through the lens of culture and heritage. According to it even today, a
lot of tourism-related development in India revolves around pilgrimages, amongst
other factors of interest.
India’s North-eastern region is a paradise for tourists from all over the world.
The seven states are full of beautiful places that attract tourists during any time of
the year. The article North-eastern India- A Tourism Paradise takes us on a journey
of the seven sister states beautifully. It contains the description of prominent tourist
places of seven north-eastern states.
The article Tourism Infrastructure Development introduces us to the 3 “A”
Approach of tourism infrastructure development. It states that there can be no
tourism without a destination. For a destination to develop and sustain itself, the
3 ‘A’s are fundamentally important. These three A’s have to be present in sync for
any form of tourism to thrive, including rural tourism. An attempt has been made to
co-relate the ‘A’s with Rural Tourism. An article on Reviving Tourism post COVID-19
Pandemic has also been included in this issue.
We hope our readers find information provided through various write-ups on
Rural Tourism valuable, interesting and insightful. We wish our readers a happy
reading. Stay safe.
Kurukshetra June 2022 5
Avinash Mishra
Madhubanti Dutta
India showcases rich heritage and natural abundance of many incredible places that are worthy enough to represent the
nation globally. The sector has been instrumental in providing mass employment opportunities and substantially increasing
income levels of both the formal and informal sectors of the economy. Professional training should be imparted to the
eligible people with the aim of making them duly qualified and competent with the requisite professional skills so that they
can take up jobs as heritage tour guides in the tourism industry. A certified guide license will further increase the credibility
of a tourist guide in the eyes of the tourists, enhance the overall experience of tourists who visit the country, and generate
employment opportunities in the tourism industry.
Rural Tourism: India an Incredible Tourism Destination
ndia is one of the world's oldest
civilisations which offers a kaleidoscope
of cultural experiences. The country
has a rich heritage and numerous
attractions. It stretches from the snow-capped
Himalayan peaks to the tropical rain forests of the
south, covering 32,872,263 square kilometers
1
. It is
the world's seventh-largest country, distinguished
from the rest of Asia by mountains and the sea
which gives the country a distinct geographical
identity. It is a remarkable tourism destination that
provides visitors with diverse experiences. India
showcases a variety of heritage resources crafted
hundreds of years ago, from huge heritage sites to
pristine sea beaches in Andaman & Nicobar and
Lakshadweep.
Tourism contributes to substantial economic,
social, cultural, educational, and political
development. The tourism industry generates
both direct and indirect employment. With its
rapid growth, new opportunities have increased,
I
ranging from highly skilled and trained managers
in high-end tourist hotels to semi-skilled workers.
Tourism has become one of the most important
economic sectors in countries like India, producing
significant national income and creating high
employment opportunities.
It has become the country's fastest-growing
service industry with excellent potential for
expansion and diversification.
Tourism- A Catalyst to Economic Growth
Under the Swadesh Darshan scheme, the
Ministry of Tourism is developing thematic
circuits in the country in a planned and prioritised
manner. Under the scheme, 15 thematic circuits
have been identified for development; namely,
North-East Circuit, Buddhist Circuit, Himalayan
Circuit, Coastal Circuit, Krishna Circuit, Desert
Circuit, Tribal Circuit, Eco Circuit, Wildlife Circuit,
Rural Circuit, Spiritual Circuit, Ramayana Circuit,
Heritage Circuit, Sufi Circuit, and Tirthankara
1
Indian Tourism Statistics, 2019
(City Palace-Jaipur)
Page 4
A Journal on Rural Development
Vol. 70 No. 8 Pages 52
June 2022
Kurukshetra
Kurukshetra seeks to carry the message of Rural Development to all people. It serves as a forum for free, frank and serious discussion on the problems of Rural
Development with special focus on Rural Uplift.
The views expressed by the authors in the articles are their own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government or the organisations they work for.
The readers are requested to verify the claims in the advertisements regarding career guidance books/institutions. Kurukshetra does not own responsibility. Maps
used are for illustration & study purpose and may not strictly conform to the official map. Images, graphics and illustrations, wherever used, are mostly sourced from
government channels and are indicative in nature. Final Editing rights will vest with Kurukshetra Team.
Sales Emporia : ? Delhi - BM (I/c), Publications Division, CGO Complex, Soochna Bhavan, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003 (011-24365609);
Hall No. 196, Old Secretariat, Delhi 110054 (011-23890205) ? Kolkata - BM (I/c), Publications Division, 8, Esplanade East, Kolkata-700069
(033-22482576) ? Mumbai - BM (I/c), Publications Division, 701, C-Wing, 7th Floor, Kendriya Sadan, Belapur, Navi Mumbai-400614
(022-27570686) ? Chennai - BM (I/c), Publications Division, ‘A’ Wing, Rajaji Bhawan, Besant Nagar, Chennai - 600090 (044-24917673)
? Thiruvananthapuram - BM, Publications Division, Press Road, Near Govt. Press, Thiruvananthpuram - 6950001 (0471-2330650)
? Hyderabad - BM, Publications Division, Room No. 204, 2nd Floor, C.G.O. Towers, Kavadiguda, Hyderabad-500080 (040-27535383)
? Bengaluru - BM (I/c), Sales Unit, Floor, ‘F’ Wing, Kendriya Sadan, Koramangala, Bengaluru - 560034 (080-25537244)
? Patna - BM, Publications Division, Bihar State Co-operative, Bank Building, Ashoka Rajpath, Patna-800004 (0612-2675823)
? Lucknow - BM, Publications Division, Hall No. 1, 2nd Floor, Kendriya Bhawan, sector – H, Aliganj, Lucknow - 226024 (0522-2325455)
? Ahmedabad - Sales Unit, Publications Division, 4-C, Neptune Tower, 4th Floor, Nr HP Petrol Pump, Nehru Bridge Corner, Ashram Road,
Ahmedabad Gujarat -380009 (079-26588669) ? Guwahati - Publications Division, Assam Khadi and Village Industries Board, Ground
Floor, MRD Road, Chandmari, Guwahati - 781003 (0361- 2668237/2664613)
CONTENT
? Rural Tourism: India an Incredible
Tourism Destination
Avinash Mishra
Madhubanti Dutta 5
EDITOR
Shiela Chaudhary
Pankhuri Awasthi
JOINT DIRECTOR (PRODUCTION)
D.K.C. Hrudhainath
COVER DESIGN
Rajender Kumar
EDITORIAL OFFICE
Room No. 653,
Publications Division,
Soochna Bhawan, C.G.O. Complex,
Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003
Phone : 011-24362859
Email : kurukshetrajournal@gmail.com
For Subscription Enquiries,
Grievances, Renewals and Agency
Information, Please Contact:
Journals Unit
Publications Division, Room No. 779,
Soochna Bhawan, C.G.O. Complex,
Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110 003
(Monday-Friday, 9:30 AM-6:00 PM)
TELE : 24367453 FAX: 24365610
Email : pdjucir@gmail.com
Website : publicationsdivision.nic.in
@publicationsdivision
@DPD_India
@dpd_India
For Online Sale, please log on to
bharatkosh.gov.in/product, and for
e-books, please visit Google Play,
Kobo or Amazon.
Subscription* :
Inland
1 Year : ` 230
2 Years : ` 430
3 Years : ` 610
Abroad (Air Mail)
One Year
` 530 (SAARC Countries)
` 730 (Other Countries)
* Revised from April 2016
Issue Onwards
? Development of Rural Tourism
Ganji Kamala Vardhana Rao 11
? Rural Tourism-Culture and Heritage
Hemanth Menon 16
? North-eastern India- A Tourism
Paradise
Dr. Tapati Baruah Kashyap 21
? Tourism in Jammu and Kashmir
Irtif Lone 27
? Tourism for AatmaNirbhar Bharat
Dr. Namrata Singh Panwar 32
? Tourism Infrastructure Development
Dr. Suyash Yadav 38
? Reviving Tourism post COVID-19
Pandemic
Bhavya Tyagi and Karishma Sharma 45
Kurukshetra June 2022 4
Overtourism, a newly coined word, influenced by mass culture means a
very high number of people visiting a few tourist destinations, which suffer from
the excessive presence of tourism such as Shimla and Goa. Overtourism has
consequences like destruction of natural ecosystem, increase in the amount of
waste, inflation, migration of residents and so on. The most preferable solution to
this problem is a shift towards eco tourism or rural tourism—a fast growing industry
focused on conservation of nature and local livelihood creation. Rural Tourism can
provide boost to the tourism industry and help recover the post pandemic setback.
Therefore, the theme of this issue of Kurukshetra is Rural Tourism.
India’s strength lies in her villages as a large fraction of our population (69
percent) lives in rural areas and rural economy contributes about 46 percent
towards the national income and 25-30 percent of India's GDP. Therefore, tourism
in rural areas has a high potential to stimulate local economic growth and social
change. Rural Tourism is one of the Niche Tourism Products/sectors promoted by
the Ministry of Tourism.
According to our lead article Rural Tourism: India an Incredible Tourism
Destination, tourism acts as a catalyst for the economic growth of a country. It
throws a light upon the importance of tourism with a special focus on rural tourism.
It states that India's rural areas have a lot to offer to the rest of the world. Rural
India, which is rich in arts, crafts, and culture, has the potential to become a tourist
hotspot. If the concept of rural tourism is well-marketed, those in the developed
world, particularly millennials who are fascinated by traditional ways of life, arts,
and crafts will be drawn to visit rural India.
The article Development of Rural Tourism delves into various schemes and
programmes undertaken by the Government of India to promote and develop rural
tourism. It states that rural tourism is an opportunity to promote sustainable and
responsible tourism.
Pilgrimages were the first forms of tourism mobility to emerge thousands of
years ago. The article Rural Tourism-Culture and Heritage provides us a glimpse of
rural tourism through the lens of culture and heritage. According to it even today, a
lot of tourism-related development in India revolves around pilgrimages, amongst
other factors of interest.
India’s North-eastern region is a paradise for tourists from all over the world.
The seven states are full of beautiful places that attract tourists during any time of
the year. The article North-eastern India- A Tourism Paradise takes us on a journey
of the seven sister states beautifully. It contains the description of prominent tourist
places of seven north-eastern states.
The article Tourism Infrastructure Development introduces us to the 3 “A”
Approach of tourism infrastructure development. It states that there can be no
tourism without a destination. For a destination to develop and sustain itself, the
3 ‘A’s are fundamentally important. These three A’s have to be present in sync for
any form of tourism to thrive, including rural tourism. An attempt has been made to
co-relate the ‘A’s with Rural Tourism. An article on Reviving Tourism post COVID-19
Pandemic has also been included in this issue.
We hope our readers find information provided through various write-ups on
Rural Tourism valuable, interesting and insightful. We wish our readers a happy
reading. Stay safe.
Kurukshetra June 2022 5
Avinash Mishra
Madhubanti Dutta
India showcases rich heritage and natural abundance of many incredible places that are worthy enough to represent the
nation globally. The sector has been instrumental in providing mass employment opportunities and substantially increasing
income levels of both the formal and informal sectors of the economy. Professional training should be imparted to the
eligible people with the aim of making them duly qualified and competent with the requisite professional skills so that they
can take up jobs as heritage tour guides in the tourism industry. A certified guide license will further increase the credibility
of a tourist guide in the eyes of the tourists, enhance the overall experience of tourists who visit the country, and generate
employment opportunities in the tourism industry.
Rural Tourism: India an Incredible Tourism Destination
ndia is one of the world's oldest
civilisations which offers a kaleidoscope
of cultural experiences. The country
has a rich heritage and numerous
attractions. It stretches from the snow-capped
Himalayan peaks to the tropical rain forests of the
south, covering 32,872,263 square kilometers
1
. It is
the world's seventh-largest country, distinguished
from the rest of Asia by mountains and the sea
which gives the country a distinct geographical
identity. It is a remarkable tourism destination that
provides visitors with diverse experiences. India
showcases a variety of heritage resources crafted
hundreds of years ago, from huge heritage sites to
pristine sea beaches in Andaman & Nicobar and
Lakshadweep.
Tourism contributes to substantial economic,
social, cultural, educational, and political
development. The tourism industry generates
both direct and indirect employment. With its
rapid growth, new opportunities have increased,
I
ranging from highly skilled and trained managers
in high-end tourist hotels to semi-skilled workers.
Tourism has become one of the most important
economic sectors in countries like India, producing
significant national income and creating high
employment opportunities.
It has become the country's fastest-growing
service industry with excellent potential for
expansion and diversification.
Tourism- A Catalyst to Economic Growth
Under the Swadesh Darshan scheme, the
Ministry of Tourism is developing thematic
circuits in the country in a planned and prioritised
manner. Under the scheme, 15 thematic circuits
have been identified for development; namely,
North-East Circuit, Buddhist Circuit, Himalayan
Circuit, Coastal Circuit, Krishna Circuit, Desert
Circuit, Tribal Circuit, Eco Circuit, Wildlife Circuit,
Rural Circuit, Spiritual Circuit, Ramayana Circuit,
Heritage Circuit, Sufi Circuit, and Tirthankara
1
Indian Tourism Statistics, 2019
(City Palace-Jaipur)
Kurukshetra June 2022 6
Circuit. The Ministry of Tourism has taken several
steps to promote tourism in a sustainable way. It
has launched the Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD
schemes to improve its tourism infrastructure.
By collaborating with various Central Ministries/
Departments, State Governments, and Urban
Local Bodies, 17 iconic sites in the country have
been identified for development.
It has also launched the "Adopt a Heritage-
Apni Dharohar Apni Pehchan" project, aiming to
improve and maintain visitor facilities at heritage
sites, monuments, and other tourist attractions.
Another significant milestone was the provision
of e-Visas for nationals of 170 countries in five
subcategories i.e. Tourist visas, e-Business visas,
e-Medical visas, e-Medical Attendant visas, and
e-Conference visas
2
.
NITI Aayog has taken up the holistic
development of a few identified islands in the
country. The final Site Potential Development
Report has been prepared for four islands in
Andaman and Nicobar (A&N), namely Smith,
Ross, Long, and Aves Islands; and five islands
in Lakshadweep, namely Minicoy, Bangaram,
Thinnakara, Cheriyam, and Suheli Islands. Tourism-
based projects have been identified in Long, Aves,
Smith, and Neil Islands of A&N and Minicoy,
Kadamat, and Suheli Islands of Lakshadweep.
Development of Coastal Circuit (Long Island-Ross
Smith Island- Neil Island- Havelock Island- Baratang
Island-Port Blair) in Andaman and
Nicobar under the Coastal thematic
circuit of Swadesh Darshan Scheme is
implemented for the development of
island tourism in the country
3
.
Given Lakshadweep's enormous
ecotourism and fisheries potential,
India can become a role model for
ecotourism and sustainable fisheries
without jeopardising the fragile and
sensitive biodiversity of the region.
Various initiatives, such as undersea
optical fiber connectivity, airport
expansion, infrastructure upgrading,
and a plan to build water villas on
several islands, are examples of
commendable efforts. Large-scale
seaweed cultivation attempts to modernise the
fisheries sector, and steps to increase production
of organic coconut oil and coir are also being
pursued
4
.
National parks form the cornerstone of
biodiversity and are important for supporting
ecosystems and the flora that live within them.
National Parks provide a major boost to the Indian
economy, with wildlife and nature-based tourism.
In addition to the economic benefits, tourism
has promoted cultural interaction between Indian
citizens and people of other countries and fostered
regional cooperation. The sector has also played a
pivotal role in enhancing India's soft power. The
travel and tourism Industry is one of the fastest-
growing industries globally, with a growth rate of
3.5 percent vis-à-vis a global economic growth
rate of 2.5 percent in 2019. The sector contributed
around 10.4 percent to global GDP, generated 330
million employees worldwide, and accounted for
27.4 percent of global services exports. However,
COVID-19 has had a detrimental impact on the travel
industry worldwide, with the sector's contribution
to global GDP and employment declining by 49
percent and 19 percent, respectively
5
.
The tourism sector contributes immensely
to foreign exchange reserves in the country and
provides employment opportunities, both in the
2
Ministry of Tourism, 03 FEB 2020, PIB Delhi
3
Ministry of Tourism, 07 JAN 2019, PIB Delhi
4
Vice President's Secretariat, 01 JAN 2022, PIB Delhi
5
Economic Impact Reports, World Travel & Tourism Council
(Taj Mahal)
Page 5
A Journal on Rural Development
Vol. 70 No. 8 Pages 52
June 2022
Kurukshetra
Kurukshetra seeks to carry the message of Rural Development to all people. It serves as a forum for free, frank and serious discussion on the problems of Rural
Development with special focus on Rural Uplift.
The views expressed by the authors in the articles are their own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government or the organisations they work for.
The readers are requested to verify the claims in the advertisements regarding career guidance books/institutions. Kurukshetra does not own responsibility. Maps
used are for illustration & study purpose and may not strictly conform to the official map. Images, graphics and illustrations, wherever used, are mostly sourced from
government channels and are indicative in nature. Final Editing rights will vest with Kurukshetra Team.
Sales Emporia : ? Delhi - BM (I/c), Publications Division, CGO Complex, Soochna Bhavan, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003 (011-24365609);
Hall No. 196, Old Secretariat, Delhi 110054 (011-23890205) ? Kolkata - BM (I/c), Publications Division, 8, Esplanade East, Kolkata-700069
(033-22482576) ? Mumbai - BM (I/c), Publications Division, 701, C-Wing, 7th Floor, Kendriya Sadan, Belapur, Navi Mumbai-400614
(022-27570686) ? Chennai - BM (I/c), Publications Division, ‘A’ Wing, Rajaji Bhawan, Besant Nagar, Chennai - 600090 (044-24917673)
? Thiruvananthapuram - BM, Publications Division, Press Road, Near Govt. Press, Thiruvananthpuram - 6950001 (0471-2330650)
? Hyderabad - BM, Publications Division, Room No. 204, 2nd Floor, C.G.O. Towers, Kavadiguda, Hyderabad-500080 (040-27535383)
? Bengaluru - BM (I/c), Sales Unit, Floor, ‘F’ Wing, Kendriya Sadan, Koramangala, Bengaluru - 560034 (080-25537244)
? Patna - BM, Publications Division, Bihar State Co-operative, Bank Building, Ashoka Rajpath, Patna-800004 (0612-2675823)
? Lucknow - BM, Publications Division, Hall No. 1, 2nd Floor, Kendriya Bhawan, sector – H, Aliganj, Lucknow - 226024 (0522-2325455)
? Ahmedabad - Sales Unit, Publications Division, 4-C, Neptune Tower, 4th Floor, Nr HP Petrol Pump, Nehru Bridge Corner, Ashram Road,
Ahmedabad Gujarat -380009 (079-26588669) ? Guwahati - Publications Division, Assam Khadi and Village Industries Board, Ground
Floor, MRD Road, Chandmari, Guwahati - 781003 (0361- 2668237/2664613)
CONTENT
? Rural Tourism: India an Incredible
Tourism Destination
Avinash Mishra
Madhubanti Dutta 5
EDITOR
Shiela Chaudhary
Pankhuri Awasthi
JOINT DIRECTOR (PRODUCTION)
D.K.C. Hrudhainath
COVER DESIGN
Rajender Kumar
EDITORIAL OFFICE
Room No. 653,
Publications Division,
Soochna Bhawan, C.G.O. Complex,
Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003
Phone : 011-24362859
Email : kurukshetrajournal@gmail.com
For Subscription Enquiries,
Grievances, Renewals and Agency
Information, Please Contact:
Journals Unit
Publications Division, Room No. 779,
Soochna Bhawan, C.G.O. Complex,
Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110 003
(Monday-Friday, 9:30 AM-6:00 PM)
TELE : 24367453 FAX: 24365610
Email : pdjucir@gmail.com
Website : publicationsdivision.nic.in
@publicationsdivision
@DPD_India
@dpd_India
For Online Sale, please log on to
bharatkosh.gov.in/product, and for
e-books, please visit Google Play,
Kobo or Amazon.
Subscription* :
Inland
1 Year : ` 230
2 Years : ` 430
3 Years : ` 610
Abroad (Air Mail)
One Year
` 530 (SAARC Countries)
` 730 (Other Countries)
* Revised from April 2016
Issue Onwards
? Development of Rural Tourism
Ganji Kamala Vardhana Rao 11
? Rural Tourism-Culture and Heritage
Hemanth Menon 16
? North-eastern India- A Tourism
Paradise
Dr. Tapati Baruah Kashyap 21
? Tourism in Jammu and Kashmir
Irtif Lone 27
? Tourism for AatmaNirbhar Bharat
Dr. Namrata Singh Panwar 32
? Tourism Infrastructure Development
Dr. Suyash Yadav 38
? Reviving Tourism post COVID-19
Pandemic
Bhavya Tyagi and Karishma Sharma 45
Kurukshetra June 2022 4
Overtourism, a newly coined word, influenced by mass culture means a
very high number of people visiting a few tourist destinations, which suffer from
the excessive presence of tourism such as Shimla and Goa. Overtourism has
consequences like destruction of natural ecosystem, increase in the amount of
waste, inflation, migration of residents and so on. The most preferable solution to
this problem is a shift towards eco tourism or rural tourism—a fast growing industry
focused on conservation of nature and local livelihood creation. Rural Tourism can
provide boost to the tourism industry and help recover the post pandemic setback.
Therefore, the theme of this issue of Kurukshetra is Rural Tourism.
India’s strength lies in her villages as a large fraction of our population (69
percent) lives in rural areas and rural economy contributes about 46 percent
towards the national income and 25-30 percent of India's GDP. Therefore, tourism
in rural areas has a high potential to stimulate local economic growth and social
change. Rural Tourism is one of the Niche Tourism Products/sectors promoted by
the Ministry of Tourism.
According to our lead article Rural Tourism: India an Incredible Tourism
Destination, tourism acts as a catalyst for the economic growth of a country. It
throws a light upon the importance of tourism with a special focus on rural tourism.
It states that India's rural areas have a lot to offer to the rest of the world. Rural
India, which is rich in arts, crafts, and culture, has the potential to become a tourist
hotspot. If the concept of rural tourism is well-marketed, those in the developed
world, particularly millennials who are fascinated by traditional ways of life, arts,
and crafts will be drawn to visit rural India.
The article Development of Rural Tourism delves into various schemes and
programmes undertaken by the Government of India to promote and develop rural
tourism. It states that rural tourism is an opportunity to promote sustainable and
responsible tourism.
Pilgrimages were the first forms of tourism mobility to emerge thousands of
years ago. The article Rural Tourism-Culture and Heritage provides us a glimpse of
rural tourism through the lens of culture and heritage. According to it even today, a
lot of tourism-related development in India revolves around pilgrimages, amongst
other factors of interest.
India’s North-eastern region is a paradise for tourists from all over the world.
The seven states are full of beautiful places that attract tourists during any time of
the year. The article North-eastern India- A Tourism Paradise takes us on a journey
of the seven sister states beautifully. It contains the description of prominent tourist
places of seven north-eastern states.
The article Tourism Infrastructure Development introduces us to the 3 “A”
Approach of tourism infrastructure development. It states that there can be no
tourism without a destination. For a destination to develop and sustain itself, the
3 ‘A’s are fundamentally important. These three A’s have to be present in sync for
any form of tourism to thrive, including rural tourism. An attempt has been made to
co-relate the ‘A’s with Rural Tourism. An article on Reviving Tourism post COVID-19
Pandemic has also been included in this issue.
We hope our readers find information provided through various write-ups on
Rural Tourism valuable, interesting and insightful. We wish our readers a happy
reading. Stay safe.
Kurukshetra June 2022 5
Avinash Mishra
Madhubanti Dutta
India showcases rich heritage and natural abundance of many incredible places that are worthy enough to represent the
nation globally. The sector has been instrumental in providing mass employment opportunities and substantially increasing
income levels of both the formal and informal sectors of the economy. Professional training should be imparted to the
eligible people with the aim of making them duly qualified and competent with the requisite professional skills so that they
can take up jobs as heritage tour guides in the tourism industry. A certified guide license will further increase the credibility
of a tourist guide in the eyes of the tourists, enhance the overall experience of tourists who visit the country, and generate
employment opportunities in the tourism industry.
Rural Tourism: India an Incredible Tourism Destination
ndia is one of the world's oldest
civilisations which offers a kaleidoscope
of cultural experiences. The country
has a rich heritage and numerous
attractions. It stretches from the snow-capped
Himalayan peaks to the tropical rain forests of the
south, covering 32,872,263 square kilometers
1
. It is
the world's seventh-largest country, distinguished
from the rest of Asia by mountains and the sea
which gives the country a distinct geographical
identity. It is a remarkable tourism destination that
provides visitors with diverse experiences. India
showcases a variety of heritage resources crafted
hundreds of years ago, from huge heritage sites to
pristine sea beaches in Andaman & Nicobar and
Lakshadweep.
Tourism contributes to substantial economic,
social, cultural, educational, and political
development. The tourism industry generates
both direct and indirect employment. With its
rapid growth, new opportunities have increased,
I
ranging from highly skilled and trained managers
in high-end tourist hotels to semi-skilled workers.
Tourism has become one of the most important
economic sectors in countries like India, producing
significant national income and creating high
employment opportunities.
It has become the country's fastest-growing
service industry with excellent potential for
expansion and diversification.
Tourism- A Catalyst to Economic Growth
Under the Swadesh Darshan scheme, the
Ministry of Tourism is developing thematic
circuits in the country in a planned and prioritised
manner. Under the scheme, 15 thematic circuits
have been identified for development; namely,
North-East Circuit, Buddhist Circuit, Himalayan
Circuit, Coastal Circuit, Krishna Circuit, Desert
Circuit, Tribal Circuit, Eco Circuit, Wildlife Circuit,
Rural Circuit, Spiritual Circuit, Ramayana Circuit,
Heritage Circuit, Sufi Circuit, and Tirthankara
1
Indian Tourism Statistics, 2019
(City Palace-Jaipur)
Kurukshetra June 2022 6
Circuit. The Ministry of Tourism has taken several
steps to promote tourism in a sustainable way. It
has launched the Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD
schemes to improve its tourism infrastructure.
By collaborating with various Central Ministries/
Departments, State Governments, and Urban
Local Bodies, 17 iconic sites in the country have
been identified for development.
It has also launched the "Adopt a Heritage-
Apni Dharohar Apni Pehchan" project, aiming to
improve and maintain visitor facilities at heritage
sites, monuments, and other tourist attractions.
Another significant milestone was the provision
of e-Visas for nationals of 170 countries in five
subcategories i.e. Tourist visas, e-Business visas,
e-Medical visas, e-Medical Attendant visas, and
e-Conference visas
2
.
NITI Aayog has taken up the holistic
development of a few identified islands in the
country. The final Site Potential Development
Report has been prepared for four islands in
Andaman and Nicobar (A&N), namely Smith,
Ross, Long, and Aves Islands; and five islands
in Lakshadweep, namely Minicoy, Bangaram,
Thinnakara, Cheriyam, and Suheli Islands. Tourism-
based projects have been identified in Long, Aves,
Smith, and Neil Islands of A&N and Minicoy,
Kadamat, and Suheli Islands of Lakshadweep.
Development of Coastal Circuit (Long Island-Ross
Smith Island- Neil Island- Havelock Island- Baratang
Island-Port Blair) in Andaman and
Nicobar under the Coastal thematic
circuit of Swadesh Darshan Scheme is
implemented for the development of
island tourism in the country
3
.
Given Lakshadweep's enormous
ecotourism and fisheries potential,
India can become a role model for
ecotourism and sustainable fisheries
without jeopardising the fragile and
sensitive biodiversity of the region.
Various initiatives, such as undersea
optical fiber connectivity, airport
expansion, infrastructure upgrading,
and a plan to build water villas on
several islands, are examples of
commendable efforts. Large-scale
seaweed cultivation attempts to modernise the
fisheries sector, and steps to increase production
of organic coconut oil and coir are also being
pursued
4
.
National parks form the cornerstone of
biodiversity and are important for supporting
ecosystems and the flora that live within them.
National Parks provide a major boost to the Indian
economy, with wildlife and nature-based tourism.
In addition to the economic benefits, tourism
has promoted cultural interaction between Indian
citizens and people of other countries and fostered
regional cooperation. The sector has also played a
pivotal role in enhancing India's soft power. The
travel and tourism Industry is one of the fastest-
growing industries globally, with a growth rate of
3.5 percent vis-à-vis a global economic growth
rate of 2.5 percent in 2019. The sector contributed
around 10.4 percent to global GDP, generated 330
million employees worldwide, and accounted for
27.4 percent of global services exports. However,
COVID-19 has had a detrimental impact on the travel
industry worldwide, with the sector's contribution
to global GDP and employment declining by 49
percent and 19 percent, respectively
5
.
The tourism sector contributes immensely
to foreign exchange reserves in the country and
provides employment opportunities, both in the
2
Ministry of Tourism, 03 FEB 2020, PIB Delhi
3
Ministry of Tourism, 07 JAN 2019, PIB Delhi
4
Vice President's Secretariat, 01 JAN 2022, PIB Delhi
5
Economic Impact Reports, World Travel & Tourism Council
(Taj Mahal)
Kurukshetra June 2022 7
formal and informal sectors. In 2019, the sector
accounted for 8.8 percent of the total employment,
5.8 percent of the total exports, and 6.9 percent of
GDP
6
. However, the sector now contributes only 4.7
percent to GDP, 7.3 percent to total employment,
and 2.5 percent to total exports
7
. The fact that
the Services sector contributes 55 percent to the
Indian economy, makes the tourism industry even
more crucial for the country's overall economic
growth.
Despite having a diverse culture and rich
architectural heritage, India holds only a 1.2
percent share of the international tourism market
(2019) as against Spain (5.7 percent), the USA (5.4
percent), China (4.5 percent), the UK (2.7 percent)
and Thailand (2.7 percent)
8
. Countries like the UK
and USA have only 34 and 24 World Heritage sites,
respectively, but their foreign exchange earnings
from Tourism are much higher than India, which
has 40 World Heritage sites.
Against this backdrop, India must adopt
innovative approaches to boost and promote
different tourism segments such as niche tourism,
wellness tourism, adventure tourism, and spiritual
tourism. Given that India has been recognised as
a destination for spiritual tourism for ages for
both domestic and international tourists, we must
unleash the potential of spiritual tourism.
Importance of Tourism
In most places of the world, tourism is a
significant source of economic growth. Several
countries have revolutionised their economies by
entirely utilising tourism's potential. Tourism has
the potential to generate large-scale productive
employment that is multifaceted in nature,
ranging from highly skilled to semi-skilled.
Tourism has grown and diversified over the
decades to become one of the fastest-growing
economic sectors. Contemporary tourism is
intricately related to economic growth and socio-
economic development. Presently, tourism also
has a commercial volume that rivals or exceeds oil
exports, food items, and automobiles. Tourism has
grown to be one of the essential participants in
international trade and one of the primary sources
of income for many developing countries. This
expansion is accompanied by increased destination
diversification and competitiveness. The tourism
industry's growing importance as an economic
engine and its potential as a development tool
is undeniable. It not only drives growth, but also
improves people's lives by generating large-scale
employment in a variety of fields. It promotes a
rich cultural legacy, environmental sustainability,
and international peace.
In India, tourism has mostly been constrained
to a few traditional cities and towns of historical,
architectural, and cultural interest. Due to
a lack of infrastructure and communication
many magnificent sites remain unknown or
underexplored. Almost every region in India has its
own stunning locations that need to be developed
and promoted for tourism.
This necessitates a holistic strategy and
consistent policy execution across the country.
Furthermore, we require planning and financial
support from both the States and the Centre in
order to develop all of these areas in a systematic
manner. There arises the need to focus on rural
tourism, which is the future of driving the tourism
sector ahead.
A Special Focus on Rural Tourism
With the phenomenal rise of the tourism
industry worldwide, the Government of India has
implemented several policy initiatives to boost
tourism. To make "Incredible India" an attractive
tourist destination globally, new tourism goods
and packages such as business tourism, health
tourism, rural tourism, ecotourism, cultural
tourism, pilgrimage tourism, adventure tourism,
and sustainable tourism are being developed.
India's rural heartland is an unexplored
treasure with its different lifestyles focusing on art
and crafts, culture, and natural heritage. Over the
past few decades, the country's tourism industry
has grown exponentially, but rural tourism has
never been given full attention. India's rural areas
have a lot to offer to the rest of the world. Rural
India, which is rich in arts, crafts, and culture, has
the potential to become a tourist hotspot. If the
concept of rural tourism is well-marketed, those in
6
WTTC India Report 2021
7
WTTC India Report 2021
8
India Tourism Statistics at a Glance 2021
Read More