The Department of Tourism, Uttar Pradesh, organized the Rural Tourism Conclave 2025 at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, Lucknow, marking a major step to position the state as India’s next rural tourism hub.
Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh presided as Chief Guest, joined by senior officials, policy experts, farm stay operators, and innovators from across India. More than 40 farm stay and homestay owners were felicitated for redefining hospitality in rural Uttar Pradesh.
Among the dignitaries present were MLC Dharmendra Singh, Padma Shri awardee farmer Ram Sharan Verma, Cooperative Registrar Yogesh Kumar, Director of Eco Tourism Prakhar Mishra, and sustainability champion Annadani Malligavad.
Minister Singh highlighted the cultural roots of Indian villages, saying, “India’s stories of gods, values, and culture begin in villages. From Lord Ram to Krishna, the soul of Bharat lies in its soil.” He added that under the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, rural tourism will fuel empowerment, entrepreneurship, and environmental consciousness.
Principal Secretary Tourism Mukesh Kumar Meshram announced that 234 villages have been identified as tourism hubs with over 750 homestays in the pipeline. He emphasized rural tourism as “India’s soft power” and an opportunity to reconnect the next generation with cultural roots.
Special Secretary Tourism Eesha Priya detailed initiatives such as training 285 rural youth, engaging 18 NGOs, and offering benefits including subsidies and exemptions. “Tourism is no longer about sightseeing, it’s about soul-seeing,” she said.
The conclave also featured expert sessions on natural farming, agri-tourism, investment opportunities, and community-led environmental rejuvenation.
Concluding the event, Minister Singh said, “This is not just about tourism. This is a movement to reclaim dignity, income, and identity for our villages.”
As a follow-up, a special FAM Trip will showcase the potential of rural tourism with traditional welcomes, artisan interactions, immersive farmstay experiences, and a cultural lunch with Padma Shri awardee Ram Sharan Verma. The initiative aims to bridge culture, community, and commerce while driving inclusive growth and women empowerment in Uttar Pradesh.
