4 villages to be honoured with national tourism award

DEHRADUN: The Union tourism ministry will honour four villages in Uttarakhand with the prestigious ‘Best Tourism Village’ Award on International Tourism Day, in a ceremony to be held in New Delhi on Sept 27, recognising their outstanding contributions to rural tourism.
The annual nationwide ‘Best Tourism Village’ competition, organised by the ministry, evaluates entries based on several criteria, including efforts to preserve cultural heritage and natural resources, promote community-based values, and ensure economic, social, and environmental sustainability.After evaluation, four villages from Uttarakhand were selected this year, said sources in state govt.
“Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s vision to establish Uttarakhand as a premier tourism destination is yielding positive results,” said an official from the state tourism department. Among the winners, Jakhol village in Uttarkashi district has been recognised for its thriving adventure tourism, while Harsil village has been selected in the ‘Vibrant Village’ category. Additionally, Gunji village in Pithoragarh district has also been awarded in the ‘Vibrant Village’ category, and Supi village in Nainital district has been acknowledged for its success in agricultural tourism.
CM Dhami extended his congratulations to all the villagers for their efforts. He underscored the pivotal role played by the public in state’s tourism development. “The state govt is committed to transforming Uttarakhand into a tourism hub. However, this ambitious goal can only be achieved with the unwavering support and cooperation of its citizens,” he said.