Sir,
Rural tourism is the form of tourism that showcases the rural life, art, culture and heritage at rural locations, thereby benefitting the local community, economically and socially, as well as enabling interaction between the tourists and the locals for a more enriching experience.It is essentially an activity that takes place in the countryside.Rural tourism has vast scope in India and in our State. Our State is predominately a rural state with majority of people living in villages and practising different religions and traditions, savouring myriad cuisine, observing many rituals and celebrating various festivals. Our State is also endowed with unparalleled and breathtaking beauty having snowcapped mountains, lushgreen pastures, murmuring springs, meandering rivers, enchanting slopes,thick alpine forests etc.
A visit to such pollution free spots located away from the hustle and bustle of cities can be a memorable and enriching experience for the visitors.Then tourists can also be attracted by our diverse farming systems and adventure activities such as skiing, rafting, swimming as also by gardening, floriculture, apiculture etc.so that they can have a glimpse of the rural life from close quarters and enjoy the unique experience of living with the rural community to have a firsthand knowledge of their peaceful and calm life in the lap of nature.For this purpose, it is important that rural people are trained in the art of hospitality, serving local cuisine, hygiene and sanitation etc.They need to be taught the importance of good communication skills and keeping their beds and rooms pest/insect free so that the tourists can have an enjoyable and comfortable stay. The Government should identify such villages along with their main attraction such as location, practices, traditions, heritage etc and give wider publicity to attract tourists from across the country. Steps should also be taken to improve road connectivity and provide other facilities to such villages for good accessibilty of the tourists in these areas.If steps are taken in this direction, rural tourism can open up a large number of avenues of employment for the unemployed rural youth and it can also help in wider interaction between the local people and the visitors, which can broaden their exposure and horizon.
Yours etc….
Ashok Sharma,
Udhampur.
Follow our WhatsApp channel