In a significant step towards promoting rural tourism, the Yogi Adityanath government has included the Azamgarh division in its ambitious project to showcase Uttar Pradeshs rich rural heritage to both domestic and international tourists. The initiative aims to highlight the cultural and environmental richness of the states rural areas, adding a new dimension to its tourism landscape. Various tourist facilities, including homestays, will be developed to promote rural tourism across four villages in Azamgarh, Mau and Ballia under the scheme. With the inclusion of villages from the Azamgarh division in this scheme, the total number of villages being developed for rural tourism has now increased to 97 in the state. The project has already been implemented in Devipatan, Chitrakoot, Ayodhya, Lucknow and Varanasi divisions, and it is expected that the identified villages from other divisions of the state will soon be integrated into the initiative. All tourism development and construction activities are being carried out by the Uttar Pradesh Tourism department as per Chief Minister Yogis vision, with efforts underway to accelerate the progress of the scheme. As part of Yogi Adityanaths vision, a total of four villages in the Azamgarh, Mau and Jaunpur districts will be selected for the homestay project to promote rural tourism. Each of the four villages will have a dedicated team consisting of a village coordinator, a district coordinator, a tourism expert, a rural development expert and a team lead. In each village, 10 local guides, five storytellers and five families will be assigned the responsibility of providing local culinary experiences. Additionally, 20 artists and local residents will be engaged to offer various traditional activities, including Zardozi, Moonj crafts, woodwork, pottery, boating, fishing, fruit and vegetable picking, and cycling. Up to 10 homestays can be established in each village, with the registration, development and regulation processes carried out in accordance with local and state government policies. The entire project will be implemented under the guidance of the Uttar Pradesh Tourism department. According to the project, all homestays will be integrated with the Nidhi Plus portal. Additionally, opportunities for developing four isolated agro-tourism properties will be explored. To promote tourism in the villages, various types of events will be organised every three months. These villages will also be promoted by creating accounts on social media platforms. Homestays with a capacity of up to 15 rooms will be developed in the villages. The entire development process will span 24 months, consisting of three phases of six months each, followed by a fourth phase of four months and a fifth phase of two months. Uttar Pradesh ranks as the number one tourist destination in the country for domestic tourists. Beyond spiritual tourism, the state holds immense potential for natural, wildlife and folk and traditional arts-based tourism. There is also significant interest in experiencing the culture and nature of Uttar Pradesh among both domestic and foreign tourists. Recognising this, the Yogi government has taken steps to unlock the vast potential for rural tourism across the state. Efforts are being made to promote rural tourism near the states major tourist destinations, with a focus on tourism development initiatives such as homestays in villages. Additionally, a detailed framework is being developed to promote the training of tour guides and operators for key tourist circuits, including rural and forest tourism.

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