Analysis Of Kurukshetra Magazine: How Rural Tourism Will Ensure Aatmnirbhar Bharat?

Kurukshetra is a Monthly Magazine which is issued by the Publications Division of the GOI.

Kurukshetra Magazine is one of the most important and indispensable source for UPSC Civil Services Exam Preparation. Keeping this in mind, here, we come with ”Analysis Of Kurukshetra Magazine” on daily basis, which covers the monthly Kurukshetra Magazine in easy and smooth pointed form, keeping in mind the demand of UPSC aspirants.

In ‘‘Analysis Of Kurukshetra Magazine,” we cover each and every topic of the Kurukshetra edition of a particular month and provide an easy-to-understand gist.

Introduction

• The Ministry of Tourism has recognised the immense potential of Rural Tourism and has been actively working on the promotion and development of this niche area of tourism.
• The Ministry of Tourism has accordingly formulated a National Strategy and Roadmap for Development of Rural Tourism in India – An initiative towards Aatma Nirbhar Bharat.

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 can help to disperse tourism in highly populated countries; this directs tourists away from some of the more well-known, busy areas and provides work opportunities and economic activity in alternative areas.

How could Rural Tourism fulfil the vision of Aatmnirbhar Bharat?

• “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” is a call to become vocal for local products. It rests on the five pillars of economy, infrastructure, systems, demography and demand.
• Aatmanirbhar Bharat is about empowering individuals and enterprises to grow and make India prosperous and strong.
• A large part of the Country is rural and a large population resides in rural areas. The village life in India is where you meet the ‘real India’.
• Developing rural economy and creating jobs and opportunities in rural areas is therefore essential for “Aatmanirbhar Bharat”.
• The villages are also repositories of the country’s culture, tradition, crafts, heritage and agri-practices. Developing and promoting these local products through tourism can generate income and jobs in rural areas and empower local communities, youth and women, fulfilling the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
• This will help in reducing the migration from rural areas, poverty alleviation and sustainable development.

National Strategy and Roadmap for Development of Rural Tourism

• National strategy and roadmap for the development of rural tourism aims at prioritization of rural tourism at national level.
• It further aims at the convergence of various schemes addressing issues such as poverty, empowerment of women and strengthening the economic status of the rural people.
• The strategy is based on an overarching theme of sustainable and responsible tourism, which will be supported by the following strategic pillars:

1. 1. Benchmarking of state policies and best practices
   2. Digital technologies and platforms for rural tourism
   3. Developing clusters for rural tourism
   4. Marketing support for rural tourism
   5. Capacity building of stakeholders
   6. Governance and Institutional Framework

The Case of Pochampally village

Recently, Pochampally village in Telangana was selected as one of the best Tourism Villages in the world by the United Nations World Tourism Organization for its crafts, reforms, and historical significance out of the three nominations namely Ladhpura Khas in Madhya Pradesh, Kongthong village in Meghalaya, and Pochampally village in Telangana.

What GOI is doing for the revival of the tourism industry?

• Tourism in the last two years has been affected world over including India due to the ongoing pandemic.
• Prime Minister`s call asking every citizen to visit at least 15 destinations by the year 2022 to promote domestic tourism, will help to foster the awareness in country on the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political, and economic value. A gradual increase in the domestic tourism will help for recovery and growth in many folds of the society
• The Government announced various fiscal and relief measures to benefit the Tourism Industry like providing financial support to more than 11,000 registered Tourist Guides & Travel and Tourism Stakeholders as well as issuing 5 Lakh free Tourist Visas.
• India has reached the historic milestone of administering 150 crore vaccine doses to citizens and started 2022 on a high note by expanding the ambit to include children in the 15-17 age bracket.

Conclusion

Tourism is one of the largest employment-generating sectors and plays a vital role in direct & indirect employment. So, the Government is should continuously take cognizance of Rural Tourism – one of the areas in which India can excel.

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