Indian Ministry of Tourism is implementing its Rural Tourism Scheme with the main objective of showcasing rural life, art, culture and heritage in villages which have core competence in art and craft, handloom, textiles, natural environment etc.
Under this scheme, Central Financial Assistance (CFA) is provided upto Rs.50.00 lakh for infrastructure development and upto Rs.20.00 lakh for capacity building of the local villagers at each identified site.
CFA is sanctioned to State Governments/Union Territory Administrations on the basis of proposals received from them, subject to adherence to scheme guidelines, availability of funds and inter-se priority.
Out of rural tourism projects sanctioned at 186 villages since the inception of the scheme in 2002, projects at 87 villages have been completed by the State Governments/ UT Administrations, so far.
Development and promotion of tourism, as well as execution of tourism projects, is primarily the responsibility of State Governments/ UT Administrations. However, Ministry of Tourism, besides providing CFA for rural tourism projects to States/UTs, promotes rural tourism at various national and international tourism fairs / marts such as World Travel Mart (WTM) London, International Travel Bourse (ITB) Berlin, Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Mart, etc.
Ministry of Tourism also facilities participation of artisans from rural tourism sites in various national and international tourism events to enable the artisans to showcase their crafts and products.
Landscaping and improvement of roads within the Panchayat limits are some of the components of the Rural Tourism Scheme for which CFA is provided to the State Governments/UT Administrations.