Tourism has long been one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing industries, with both developed and developing countries relying on it for economic growth. Although mainstream travel destinations have always been popular among travellers, the demand for offbeat rural tourism has grown exponentially in recent years. This article aims to make a case for rural tourism in India and how accessing the remote parts of the country has become easier today.
Before we answer the question ‘Why rural India?’, it is important to answer ‘How to travel to remote parts of India?’ The rise of reliable chauffeur driven car rental services like Savaari has immensely simplified accessibility across the length and breadth of the country.
Why visit Rural India – Back to our roots
City dwellers long to escape the madness of the city every now and then. They seek a place of serenity to disconnect from work and reconnect with their roots.
We have all experienced rural tourism in our own unique ways at some point. School vacations were spent at ancestral homes, running around with cousins, playing in the front yard, and stealing mangoes from the neighbour’s trees. Back then, all of this felt like routine. But as we grew older, vacations became a thing of the past, and our trips to our native milieu became a luxury.
This is when we realise how important it is to reconnect with our roots and experience the simple lives of rural dwellers. Although rural tourism in India is thriving, better connectivity and amenities are needed to help it reach its full potential and become a source of sustainable livelihood for rural communities.
The Benefits of Rural Tourism – Stimulating Economic Growth
Rural tourism promotes the social and economic development of rural residents. It provides alternative employment opportunities for locals while also reducing out-migration. Rural tourism also plays an important part in reviving traditional culture, craft, and art by providing rural producers with marketing opportunities to sell their products and services directly to tourists. Developing and promoting local agricultural and handicrafts through tourism can generate income and jobs in rural areas while also empowering local communities.
Because social interaction occurs between tourists and locals, rural tourism has enormous potential to improve residents’ quality of life. As the number of tourists increases in this region, the local government develops infrastructure such as roads, electricity, and hospitals.
The Government’s Efforts in Promoting Rural Tourism
Rural tourism continues to hold a very small share of the Indian tourism market, even though it can be a valuable contributor to the rural economy. Recognizing the enormous potential of rural tourism in India, the Ministry of Tourism has developed a National Strategy and Roadmap for the Development of Rural Tourism in India. Developing digital technologies for rural tourism, developing clusters for rural tourism, providing marketing support and strengthening the institutional framework are some of the strategic pillars of this policy.
Most rural areas are accessible by road as most of these regions lack flight connectivity. The vast road network of India includes approximately 65,600 km of national highways; but a staggering 2.7 million km of rural roads. Despite the fact that nearly 70% of India’s population lives in rural areas, approximately 40% of rural areas are not connected to all-weather roads, seven decades after independence.
The government has identified road connectivity and rural infrastructure as a key lever for India’s growth. Thanks to the government’s focus on building highways at breakneck speed, road travel is presently the best mode of accessing rural India. One of the most significant achievements has been its remarkable success in constructing roads against seemingly insurmountable odds. In 2021, the country built a record 13,505 kilometres of national highways at a breakneck speed of 37 kilometres/day.
Savaari Car Rentals – Exploring India, one road trip at a time
Rural tourism offers a great deal of exposure to different cultures that breathe in the interiors of India. It is so varied and vibrant that a whole lifetime is too short to explore it completely. A road trip to the off-beaten paths above clouds to scenic landscapes is the best way to soak in the raw experience of rural India. In the summer of 2022, Savaari took the road less travelled, into the treasure trove of tribal markets, rolling hills of the Eastern Ghats, and delicious tribal cuisine. We produced a three part documentary about the journey, that gives you several reasons why a rural road trip on a taxi should be on your travel bucket list.
At Savaari, we believe in capturing the true rural experience. Driving down with a chauffeur and exploring the rustic villages is like a symphony composed of strings of beauty painted with myriad cultures. Untrodden by the hands of industrialisation and urbanization, rural tourism offers travellers a pristine and indigenous experience, and we aim to motivate everyone to step out and experience rural India. Download our cab booking app for safe and trusted car rental services so that on your way back, the only thing on your mind are the memories you’re going to carry throughout your life.
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