HBI Staff | Mumbai 
The officials announced recently that entries for the Tourism Ministry’s competition to choose the greatest tourism community can be sent until December 31. The goal of the National Best Rural Homestay Competition and the National Best Tourism Village Competition 2024 is to further the growth and promotion of rural tourism in the nation.
According to officials the two competitions were launched on ‘World Tourism Day’ on September 27. The applications are open from November 15 to December 31. The National Best Tourism Village Competition 2023 recognised 35 villages all over India in gold, silver, and bronze categories.
As per the statement, Union Ministry of Tourism has launched comprehensive national strategies and roadmaps for the development of rural tourism in India, along with the promotion of rural homestays.
The ministry has initiated the implementation of the national strategies in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management. One of the strategic initiatives for the promotion of rural tourism and rural homestays is conducting these competitions.
To foster collaboration and create a conducive environment for the growth of rural tourism, the ministry has actively engaged governments, industry stakeholders, NGOs and local communities through these competitions. This multi-stakeholder approach synergises the efforts to strengthen the rural economies, officials said.
The competitions aim to develop healthy competitiveness among the villages and the rural homestays to identify and reward outstanding contributions to rural tourism, thereby incentivising communities and individuals for active contributions to the sustainable development goals, they said.
