Promoting Rural Tourism – People in general and villagers, in particular, are not aware of the concept, process, and benefits of village tourism. There are a number of villages where village tourism may be developed with the collaboration of Panchayats. Hence, there is a need to make Panchayats functionaries aware particularly the chairpersons of all tiers of the Panchayats about the concept and benefits of village tourism.
In this context, the State Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj with the collaboration of the Tourism Department of State Governments may organize workshops for selected personnel of Panchayats. Such workshops may be organized at the district level.
Promoting Rural Tourism
Tourism has emerged as one of the fastest-growing industries in the world. This Sector not only provides more jobs per million rupees of investment than any other sector of the economy but is also capable of providing employment opportunities for the unskilled and specialized alike even in the farthest parts of the countryside. It also has the potential to promote pro-poor growth more than many other sectors because tourism converges a number of activities like transportation, accommodation, eating and drinking establishments, retail shops, and entertainment businesses.
The other hospitality services are provided to individuals or groups traveling away from their residences for leisure, business, and entertainment. Village tourism could be one of the strategies for rural development. Hence, the development of village tourism for generating employment and supplementing villagers’ incomes deserves serious consideration.
Conceptual Framework of Panchayats and Promoting Rural Tourism:
Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIS) are people’s institutions at the grassroots level. These institutions are expected to prepare plans for economic development and social justice including 29 subjects listed in the 11th Schedule of the Constitution. Among others, the following activities have also been included in the list of 29 subjects of the Schedule, which are relevant in the context of village tourism.
- Rural Housing
- Drinking water
- Roads, culverts, bridges, ferries, waterways, and other means of communication
- Rural electrification.
- Technical training and vocational education.
- Cultural activities.
- Markets and fairs.
- Health and sanitation, including hospitals.
- Maintenance of community assets.
Since Panchayats would prepare plans for economic development and social justice, they can include other activities, which are relevant to Promoting Rural Tourism under their jurisdiction in the plan. A particular activity that is to be done properly and efficiently at a particular level of the Panchayat should be done by that level of Panchayat only and not by any other level of Panchayat.
For example, drinking water activity may be maintained by the Gram Panchayat, its supervision may be done by the Panchayat Samiti and technical assistance may be provided by the District Panchayat. In this way, activities that are to be developed in the village for the promotion of village tourism may be done by involving all levels of Panchayats.
The concept of village tourism is nowadays a household name in the sense as it has already been discussed at various forums and attracted the imagination of many across the world. It promises to offer a unique experience to the visitor who is tired of the five-star culture and is looking for something different in terms of local flavors and ethnic experiences. What the Tenth Plan Document said in this regard is worth mentioning here.
“The experienced traveler wants authentic, off- the beaten track vacations in remote and less well-known places as against luxurious five-star vacations, leading to an interest in rural and ethnic tourism”. India has an untold wealth of such experiences to offer in terms of a variety of cuisines, handicrafts, handlooms, folk art, music, dance, and topography.
Village Tourism covers all those aspects of travel whereby people come to know about each other in terms of their customs and traditions and thoughts. The concept of village tourism is definitely useful for a country like India, where 69% of its population resides in villages and is governed by Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) numbering 254044 in the country.
Strategy for the Development of Village Tourism:
There are seven capsules to be addressed for the promotion of tourism in any area. These are 1.Swagat 2. Swachhta 3. Soochana 4. Suvidha 5. Suraksha 6. Sahyog 7. Samrachana. Swagat means welcome. There must be such an environment in the villages where tourists are warmly welcomed by the village communities. There must be community feeling in the villages.
In other words, there should be social cohesion in the village. Obviously, if tourists are not welcomed by the village community, why they would go to villages for tourism? Swachhta means sanitation or cleanliness. If villages are not neat and clean, why would tourists go to that place? Keeping this in view, the Government of India has been giving stress on sanitation making it a way of life.
Soochana means communication/information. It means villages should be well connected and have access to the internet because if a place is devoid of this facility, tourists would not visit there. Suraksha means security. Obviously, security is a must for tourists because that is how they would enjoy their visits. Sahyog means cooperation and coordination.
The cooperation of different stakeholders is very important for the promotion of tourism. If different agencies dealing with seven Ss are not cooperating with each other then tourism would not be promoted. And last is samrachana. It means infrastructure.
If proper facilities like wayside facilities and adequate tourist products are not available then also tourists would rarely visit there. It means involvement and participation of various stakeholders are required to develop tourism in the right perspective and for that, PRIS can play an important role at their level in facilitating these activities at the village, Block, and district levels. Promoting Rural Tourism
Promoting Rural Tourism
The following suggestions are being given for Promoting Rural Tourism in the country. People in general and villagers, in particular, are not aware of the concept, process, and benefits of village tourism. There are a number of villages where village tourism may be developed with the collaboration of Panchayats. Hence, there is a need to make Panchayats functionaries aware particularly the chairpersons of all tiers of the Panchayats about the concept and benefits of village tourism.
In this context, the State Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj with the collaboration of the Tourism Department of State Governments may organize workshops for selected personnel of Panchayats. Such workshops may be organized at the district level. Seven components of the strategy for the development of tourism need to be developed and they are equally relevant to village tourism also.
It means the involvement and participation of various stakeholders are required to develop tourism from the right perspective. For this purpose, coordination among various Departments/Agencies is needed particularly activities related to the seven to sort out problems among various stakeholders at any level. In view of this, it is suggested that a Coordination Committee at State and district levels may be constituted for the facilitation of the process of village tourism in the State. This sort of body is required for both promotions as well as monitoring of the process of development of village tourism.
There are a number of buildings/Haveli laying vacant in the vicinity of tourist places. Examples are umpteen in every state of the country. For example, there is a number of building/Haveli of NRIs which are lying vacant in Phewa Tehsil of Kurukshetra district in Haryana. Since these NRIs have contacts abroad and this tehsil is also close to Kurukshetra which is a well-known tourist place in the world, there are chances of visiting more foreign tourists in the area. Promoting Rural Tourism
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Similarly, there are old wooden classical buildings laying vacant in various villages of Uttarakhand as their owners are settled elsewhere. Some of the houses also have two stories. These buildings could be used for tourists coming to this place and in this way tourists will get accommodation at cheaper rates and villagers also get additional income from village tourism. Such types of accommodations may also be explored in the vicinity of major tourist places like Nainital etc.
There is a need to develop tourist products for the benefit of tourists. Panchayats with the help of the Tourism Department of the State may do this task. Products may be innovative in nature which attracts tourists. Following are some examples in this regard.
There are a number of villages in the Jind district of Haryana and its vicinity which are known for their peculiarity in terms of history and culture. It is interesting to note that a number of villages are named in the name of Raags. Such villages may be identified and should be developed tourist products for tourists. There may be a such peculiarity in other states also.
There is a need to promote Panchayat tourism because of its uniqueness in terms of people’s participation through the institutions of Panchayats, Gram Sabha, and various Subject Committees. There are more than 11 lakh women elected representatives in Panchayats. It is unparallel perhaps across the world. Tourists particularly foreign tourists may like to see their participation in rural governance, planning, and development. They may also like to observe the functioning of the Gram Sabha where each voter is expected to participate in the development of the village.
Farm tourism may be another tourist product. Tourists may like to eat fruits by taking it from the tree itself and enjoying them there only. They may like to enjoy sugarcane by taking it from the field. There may be many such products that could be developed locally by the Panchayats with the involvement of the community. Panchayats may entertain school children of nearby cities who want to know and experience village life and also know various vegetation.
Above mentioned activities or of similar nature may also be taken up in those village tourism places where accommodations are available. For example, an accommodation complex has been developed in Himuifang village in Mizoram. It is one of the most beautiful spots in the State. Tourist products like farm tourism, the functioning of the village council, cultural life of people may be developed for tourists. Promoting Rural Tourism
There is a need to develop tourist circuits along with major tourist spots. For example, in the vicinity of Kurukshetra, there is a number of places that have a connection with Pandavas and Kauravas or battle which was fought between them like Ascend town, Anjana Temple, etc. Developing such sorts of circuits would not only link these tourist products with well-known tourist products but also create employment opportunities in the villages by taking various activities relating to accommodation, eating, and entertainment. Panchayats may create requisite wayside facilities for tourists at such places. Promoting Rural Tourism
Human Resource Development is necessary for the promotion of village tourism. Local people are to be trained to handle tourists in a hospitable manner and in off seasons, they could be employed in either, primary or secondary or tertiary sector locally. The list of such potential persons may be prepared in collaboration with PRIS and such persons may be trained by Catering and Hospitality Institutions.
In places where village tourism has already been promoted, there also, people engaged in various activities may be trained in catering, hospitality, and soft skills. Such activities may be taken up under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- National Rural Livelihood Mission and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushal Yojana and similar schemes of the state governments.
Cleanliness and Rural Tourism:
Swachhta is one of the important planks of strategy to promote tourism in the country. This plank is even more important in rural areas where a case for promoting village tourism is made in this article. In fact, this is a major issue to be tackled if village tourism is to be made a reality. If tourists have to cover their noses and mouth with cloth and they could not enjoy even fresh air in the village. How one can imagine visiting the countryside? Hence, there is a need to adopt cleanliness as a way of life by the people.
How is it possible in a country which divided into class and caste lines? It would be possible if cultural aspects of people could be addressed by way of making attitudinal changes in their behavior. In view of the significance of Swachhta, the Government of India launched Swachhta Hi Seva nationwide campaign on 15th September 2017 to accelerate people’s movement for sanitation.
It would have been better if love would also be added with service because these are two important ingredients of Divinity. Cleanliness has been a way of life in India. For example, people offer puja( worship) after taking bath. People take bath and wear fresh clothes before visiting their relations. A person does not like to visit a particular area that is dirty and fifty.
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The collective action for clean rural India has to be initiated by the people themselves and this is only possible if love and service for humanity have been made a way of life by all of us. Village tourism has the potential for employment generation and poverty alleviation in the country. The seven Ss as a strategy for the development of village tourism has to be adopted making PRIS coordination bodies converge activities of different sectors at the local level.
New tourist products have to be developed to attract more tourists to rural areas. The Tourism Department, different departments pertaining to the seven Ss, and PRIS have to think outside of the box. If so happens, then village tourism would turn out to be in great favor of the overall rural economy and development.