Uttar Pradesh Government Promotes Rural Tourism Through Strategic FAM Trips and Tourism Conclave 2025

The Uttar Pradesh government has undertaken significant initiatives to boost rural and community-based tourism in the state through the Tourism Conclave 2025 held in Lucknow, followed by comprehensive Familiarization (FAM) trips designed to showcase its rural travel potential. The UP tourism promotion event brought together prominent figures from the industry, including Shree Pandurang Tavde, recognized as the Father of Agri Tourism, and Dr. B.K. Dwivedi from Bio Ved, Shree Tanmay Kishor Agarwal from Living Green Farma, Manish Kumar from Back to Village, and Monika Prakash, Nodal Officer at IITTM, Noida. The conclave focused on strategic discussions regarding the advancement of rural tourism initiatives across the state.

The specially organized FAM trip provided participants with authentic village life tourism experiences across multiple locations, including Ikigai Farm Stay, Midori and Chandrakanta Farmstay in Kathwara, and Grow Farm Stay in Barabanki. More than 40 farm stay and homestay operators from across Uttar Pradesh participated in these immersive experiences, engaging with traditional cuisines, interacting with rural hosts, and observing the significant role of self-help groups in promoting local crafts and entrepreneurship.

A second FAM trip was conducted at Rural Tourism Village Aurvatand in Naugarh, Chandauli, under the Gange Gram Rural Tourism Project, organized jointly by UP Tourism and Bakri Chhap Sansthan. This initiative emphasized enhancing rural livelihoods through homestay promotion and included a key resolution to establish Aurvatand as a plastic-free tourism village, demonstrating the state's commitment to eco-friendly tourism practices.

According to TOI  reports, Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh stated, "Villages are not just places; they are living experiences of India's heritage. Rural tourism is the future of India's global appeal and will create both identity and income for our communities." Special Secretary for Tourism, Essha Priya, emphasized that "Tourism today is about soul-seeking," while Principal Secretary for Tourism, Mukesh Kumar Meshram, described rural tourism as "India's soft power."

These strategic FAM trips represent Uttar Pradesh tourism's comprehensive vision to establish rural experiences as a driving force for sustainable growth, cultural preservation, and inclusive economic prosperity. The initiatives underscore the state's commitment to community-based tourism development and positioning Uttar Pradesh as a leading destination for authentic rural travel experiences in India.
The government's focused approach to rural tourism development aims to create sustainable economic opportunities for local communities while preserving and promoting the state's rich cultural heritage through immersive village life tourism experiences.