Rural Tourism
Preparation and Implementation of Rural Tourism Development Strategy & Development of Rural Homestay
Tourism Department
The Government of Uttar Pradesh has entrusted Geostat Informatics India Pvt. Ltd. to design and implement a Rural Tourism Development Strategy that integrates culture, community participation, and sustainable infrastructure. The Rural Tourism Project spans all 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh, promoting community-based tourism across the state. Geostat has been empanelled with implementing the project in 19 districts and 51 selected villages, working closely with District Magistrates (DMs), Chief Development Officers (CDOs), Block Development Officers (BDOs), Gram Pradhans, Panchayat Secretaries, and local communities to ensure inclusive and effective on-ground execution.
Key objectives include:
Foster sustainable growth and livelihood opportunities through rural tourism initiatives that benefit local communities.
Explore and enhance the potential of selected villages to transform them into model rural tourism destinations.
Engage the community at every stage to ensure inclusive participation, ownership, and long-term impact.
Promote and preserve local culture, heritage, and traditions, celebrating the unique identity of each village.
Develop homestays and farmstays across villages to provide authentic rural experiences to visitors.
Encourage responsible and experiential tourism, connecting travelers with the everyday life, crafts, and landscapes of rural Uttar Pradesh.
Scope of Work
Under the Rural Tourism Project, Geostat is focussing on developing sustainable, community-led tourism across selected villages of Uttar Pradesh.
Village Identification & Profiling – Surveys and assessments are conducted to select potential villages in coordination with local administrations, profiling their tourism potential, heritage, and readiness.
Infrastructure & Gap Assessment – Evaluating village-level needs in connectivity, sanitation, water, and homestay facilities, with convergence support from related government schemes.
Capacity Building – Training local beneficiaries such as homestay hosts, artisans, guides, and performers to enhance skills, entrepreneurship, and service quality.
Homestay & Farmstay Development – Supporting the setup of 500+ homestays and 200+ farmstays with guidance on hospitality, digital literacy, branding, and platform integration for bookings and payments.
Community & Cultural Engagement – Promoting local crafts, cuisine, and performances through curated cultural activities, workshops, and heritage experiences.
Marketing & Promotion – Building a strong digital identity for all 51 villages through social media, storytelling, and collaborations with UP Tourism.
Events & Outreach – Organizing festivals, fairs, and exposure visits while ensuring convergence with departments for infrastructure and artisan participation in major events like Maha Kumbh 2025.
The project is creating sustainable rural tourism circuits across 19 districts, generating new livelihood opportunities and boosting rural household incomes through tourism-linked activities. It is also driving the revival and promotion of traditional crafts, culture, and cuisine, giving villages a stronger identity and appeal for visitors. At the same time, the initiative is strengthening collaboration between government authorities, village leadership, and local communities, ensuring that tourism development is inclusive, participatory, and sustainable.
Awards & Recognition
1. Organized skill development training programs on local cultural art & craft products positioned as souvenirs for tourists with the aim of generating sustainable livelihoods for rural communities and empowering women artisans through eco-friendly entrepreneurship.
2. Facilitated the participation of artisans from Tourism Village Aurangabad (Gorakhpur district) and Tourism Village Behra Dabar (Deoria district) at MahaKumbh, where they showcased traditional Terracotta and Moonj crafts to thousands of visitors.
3. In 2025, Village Selha was honoured with the Best Tourism Village Award (Silver Category) by the Department of Tourism, Uttar Pradesh, in recognition of its cultural richness, strong community participation, and sustainable tourism practices.
4. Village Pura Mahadev (Baghpat) was conferred the prestigious title of Best Tourism Village 2024 by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India at Bharat Mandapam, in recognition of its spiritual significance, cultural heritage, and outstanding role in promoting rural tourism.
5. Local artisan beneficiaries participated at the distrcit level events such as Tiranga Mahotsav in Maharajganj, led by the District Magistrate, where artisans showcased Moonj crafts and presented Kantha-embroidered portraits to dignitaries, celebrating patriotism alongside rural artistry.