Any form of tourism that showcases India’s rich life, art, culture, and its heritage at rural locations, thereby benefiting the local community economically and socially as well as enabling interaction between the tourists and the locals for a more enriching tourism experience is classified as Rural & Heritage Tourism.

Recognizing the immense potential of Rural Tourism in the country, Ministry of Tourism has formulated National Strategic Roadmap for the development of Rural Tourism and Rural Homestays in India with the vision to leverage this segments latent potential and forge a dynamic, responsible and sustainable tourism environment for rural areas of India. The plan is to develop & promote visits to rural India with a predominant village setting and  experience living in a relaxed & healthy lifestyle.

Rural tourism can immensely contribute to development of local economies by boosting employment. The villages of India are also repositories of the country’s culture, tradition, crafts, heritage and agricultural practices. Developing and promoting local products through tourism can generate income and jobs in rural areas and empower local communities, while fulfilling the vision of an ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, a key growth idea in India’s long-term economic vision. India is one of the oldest civilizations in the world and a number of Tourists visit India for its cultural heritage in various cities. The country’s rich heritage is amply reflected in the various temples, majestic forts, pleasure gardens, religious monuments, museums, art galleries, urban & rural sites. Under the umbrella of Heritage Tourism the aim is to augment travel to these destinations.