Under Vibrant Villages programme, 17 border villages to be developed as tourist destinations

The government has decided to develop 17 villages along the border with China as tourist destinations under the Vibrant Villages programme

Tourists may soon be able to experience a nomadic festival in Ladakh, trekking trails along the Alkapuri glacier in Uttarakhand, and river rafting in Arunachal Pradesh’s Para and Kameng. The government has decided to develop 17 villages along the border with China as tourist destinations under the Vibrant Villages programme. The focus is on adventure tourism, construction of homestays, and promotion of local festivals and fairs, with work to be completed by April 2024. Work will begin in Uttarakhand first.

Villages in Ladakh (Chushul, Karzok); Himachal Pradesh (Lalung, Gipu, Charang Khas); Uttarakhand (Mana, Niti, Malari, Gunji; Sikkim (Lachen, Lachung, Gnathang); and Arunachal Pradesh (Zemithang, Taksing, Chayangtajo, Tuting, Kibithoo) will be developed as a pilot project for the scheme. The long-term goal is to develop 663 villages in the first phase.

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The special programme to develop the border villages, which was launched by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Kibithoo earlier this month, aims to provide a comprehensive growth model for these villages in order to improve the quality of life of people living there.

The scheme also intends to leverage the tourism potential through promotion of local, cultural, traditional knowledge and heritage in the border areas, thus increasing the employment opportunities of the people and, as a result, stemming migration.

“The Union Tourism Ministry has zeroed in on adventure tourism and homestays as the focus areas to develop the first 17 villages chosen for the pilot project,” a senior official in the Ministry said.

In the four villages of Uttarakhand for example, plans are being put in place to construct or upgrade close to 120 homestays within this year. Similar targets have been set for the other villages too.