Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department will organize a Rural Tourism Conclave on August 21, 2025, at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan (IGP), Lucknow, with the objective of promoting rural tourism across the state. The conclave will bring together experts from the tourism sector, farm stay and homestay owners, rural and district coordinators, as well as representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
The sessions at the conclave will focus on the opportunities, challenges, and strategies for strengthening rural tourism in Uttar Pradesh.
Announcing the event, Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh said, “The Uttar Pradesh government is working to give agri-tourism a new identity in the state. By linking agriculture with tourism, our aim is to strengthen the rural economy and enhance farmers’ income. The Tourism Department is actively encouraging farm stays, homestays, and rural experience tours, so that tourists from India and abroad can directly connect with rural lifestyles, farming practices, organic agriculture, and traditional cuisines.”
The Rural Tourism Conclave will feature multiple sessions:
- In the technical session, Pandurang Taware will lead discussions on “Agri-Tourism.”
- Pankaj Arora, General Manager of Nivesh Sarathi, will address the investment session.
- In the community-based tourism session, Anand Malligavad, popularly known as the “Lake Man,” will share his insights.
- A roundtable session will see stakeholders deliberate on ways to promote rural entrepreneurship and tourism.
- In the valedictory session, Manisha Pandey from Village Ways will present the key takeaways of the conclave.
The Minister added that the conclave aims to empower local communities by creating livelihood opportunities while offering tourists an authentic rural experience. “Through rural tourism, the state seeks to bring visitors closer to the soul of India, which lies in its villages,” he remarked.
Principal Secretary for Tourism and Culture, Mukesh Kumar Meshram, said, “Uttar Pradesh has immense potential for rural tourism. The department has consistently worked to promote unexplored destinations through familiarization trips and other initiatives. A total of 234 villages have been identified for rural tourism development. Under the Tourism Policy 2022, tourism units are being incentivized with subsidies. This conclave will provide a new dimension to the prospects of rural tourism in the state.”
The conclave is expected to serve as a strategic platform for policymakers, tourism professionals, and rural stakeholders to chart the way forward for rural tourism in Uttar Pradesh, with the twin goals of community empowerment and sustainable development.
