234 villages of UP will become new centers of tourism, villagers will get employment and new source of income.
Uttar Pradesh; The scope of tourism is now expanding beyond major religious places like Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura and reaching villages. Work is being done to develop the villages of the state as new tourism destinations. Its objective is to introduce tourists to rural life, local culture, folk traditions, handicrafts and traditional food as well as to create new employment and income opportunities for the village people.
Under the Agri Rural and Gange Gram Rural Tourism Project, 234 villages of Uttar Pradesh are being developed as new centers of rural tourism. Tourists visiting these villages will not only get a chance to roam around, but will also be able to see and understand the village lifestyle closely. There are preparations to develop a different kind of tourism experience in the state by connecting rural environment and local traditions with tourism.
Uttar Pradesh has long been recognized as a major center of religious tourism. A large number of devotees and tourists reach Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura. Now efforts are being made to extend this tourism activity to villages. Through rural tourism, there are preparations to bring such areas on the tourism map, where local culture and traditions have their own distinct identity.
In rural tourism, the emphasis will be on introducing tourists to the real life of the village. People coming here will be able to see closely the local lifestyle, farming, traditional cuisine, folk art, handicrafts and rural traditions. This will give tourists a different experience from cities and normal tourist places. Also, the characteristics and traditions of the villages are likely to get wider recognition.
An important objective of this initiative is also to create new employment opportunities in the villages. As tourist traffic increases, the demand for many types of activities at the local level may increase. Local people will get opportunity to earn income through catering, handicrafts, rural products and other services. With this, the benefits of economic activities arising from tourism will reach the villagers directly.
Tourism centers built in villages can also give a new identity to local handicrafts. Different types of traditional products are prepared in different regions of Uttar Pradesh. There will be an opportunity to present these products to tourists through rural tourism. With this, local artisans can get a new market for their products and there will also be a possibility of increasing their income.
Local food will also be an important part of rural tourism. Traditional dishes and local food items prepared in villages can become the center of attraction for tourists. This will create employment opportunities for local people through food and other related services. Tourists will also be able to understand the culture of that region better through its food.
Linking folk traditions with tourism is also an important part of this project. Different regions in the villages of Uttar Pradesh have their own folk art, folklore, traditional customs and cultural identity. The development of rural tourism will provide an opportunity to bring these traditions before the tourists. This can give recognition to local cultural heritage and also promote its conservation.
The 234 villages being developed under the Agri Rural and Gange Village Rural Tourism Project can play a new role in the tourism sector of the state in the future. With the expansion of rural tourism along with religious tourism, tourists will have more options to visit and understand local life. With this, tourism activities will reach even those areas which are far away from major tourist centres.
The local economy is expected to get the biggest benefit from rural tourism. With tourists reaching villages, activities like small business, sale of local products and catering will get a boost. Instead of looking only towards cities for employment, village people will be able to get new income options in their own areas.
This initiative to develop the villages of the state as tourism centers combines both rural culture and economy. On one hand, tourists will get a chance to know the rural life and diversity of Uttar Pradesh closely, while on the other hand, employment and earning opportunities will open for the local people.
A new chapter is set to be added to the tourism sector of Uttar Pradesh by developing 234 villages as centers of rural tourism. Along with the major centers of religious faith, now the culture, food, folk traditions and handicrafts of the villages will also attract tourists. With this, along with increasing the scope of tourism in the state, economic activities in the villages are also expected to get a new impetus.