Best Tourism Village Competition

Introduction

The Best Tourism Villages Competition seeks to honor a village that best exemplifies a tourism destination with renowned cultural and natural assets, preserves and promotes community-based values, goods, and lifestyles, and has a clear commitment to sustainability in all of its aspects - economic, social, and environmental - with the overarching goal of making tourism one of the drivers of positive change, development, and community well-being.

Objectives of the Competition

1.
Reduce disparities between development of tourism destinations.

2.
Progress in empowering the population.

3.
Enhance attraction capability and encourage change.

4.
Strengthen multi-level governance, collaborations, and community engagement.

5.
Boost connection, infrastructure, financial access, and investment.

6.
        Advancement and digitalization.

7.
      Improve knowledge and abilities.

8.
Develop new products and integrate value chains.

9.
Encourage sustainable methods to make better use of resources, reduce emissions, and reduce waste.

10.
Promote the connection between resilient, equitably distributed, and sustainable food systems and tourism.

11.
Increase the conservation of natural and cultural resources.

Areas of evaluation

  • Cultural and Natural Resources (SDGs 8, 11, 12, 15)
  • Promotion and Conservation of Cultural Resources (SDGs 8, 11, 12)
  • Economic Sustainability (SDGs 5, 8, 9,17)
  • Social Sustainability y (SDGs 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12, 17)
  • Environmental Sustainability (SDGs 7, 12, 13, 15, 17)
  • Tourism Development and Value Chain Integration (SDGs 8, 9, 10, 12)
  • Governance and Prioritization of Tourism (SDGs 9, 17)
  • Infrastructure and Connectivity (SDGs 9, 17)
  • Health, Safety and Security (SDG 3)

Benefits

  • Villages recognized as Best Tourism Villages will be awarded by Ministry of Tourism.
  • The awarded village will be featured on the different portals/handles/websites of Government of India.
  • Villages recognized as Best Tourism Villages will benefit from the visibility and national recognition as an outstanding example of a destination that promotes and conserves its associated landscapes, knowledge systems, biological and cultural diversity, local values and activities (agriculture, forestry, livestock and/or fisheries), including their gastronomy and has a clear commitment to sustainability in all its aspects – economic, social and environmental with the fundamental aim of making tourism one of the drivers of development and community well-being.

Eligibility Criteria

  • The Call for Applications is open to all States and Union Territories of India.
  • Low population density and not exceeding 25,000 inhabitants.
  • Located in radius of famous places, Tourist destination or landscape.
  • Having Traditional activities including agriculture, craft, cuisine etc.
  • Having history of community values or based on past achievements.
  • Village wishing to submit their applications must dully fill in and submit the Online Application Form. No other form of applications will be considered.

Best Tourism Village Selection Process

  • Application
  • Review and Evaluation by the District
  • Selection of best three tourism villages from every district
  • State review and evaluate the best tourism villages of districts
  • Selection of best three tourism villages from every State
  • Review and evaluate the best tourism villages form every State
  • Announcement of Best Tourism Village of India

- Step #1 Filling the Application form

This step is open for the district level application. The process of application is mentioned below:

  • Visit https://nidhi.nic.in/BVC/BVLogin.aspx to apply for the competition.
  • Applicant is required to register before filling up the application form.
  • Fill up all the details mentioned in the registration form along with the User Id. and password to complete the registration.
  • After registration, login to the portal with the User Id and password created at the time of registration.
  • After registration, login to the portal with the User Id and password created at the time of registration.
  • Read the instruction and proceed further.
  • Applicants should answer all questions mentioned in the application form carefully. The write-up should not exceed more than 100 words. A detailed description with photographs (pdf file not more than 2MB) is to be uploaded with every question.
  • Applicants are advised to fill the form carefully. After submitting the form no corrections are allowed.
  • After submitting the form applicant will receive a conformation mail.

- Step #2 Review and Evaluation by the Districts

  • District will be given credentials for logging in to the portal.
  • After the last date of application, districts will review and evaluate all the entries and mark them accordingly.

- Step #3 Selection of best three tourism villages from every district

  • Districts will submit the three best tourism villages of their district.

- Step #4 State review and evaluate the best tourism villages of districts

  • The best tourism villages selected at the district level will be forwarded as the nomination for the best tourism village competition at state level.
  • The state will review and evaluate the best three tourism villages selected at district level from every district.

- Step #5 Selection of best three tourism villages from every state

  • After review and evaluation, state will submit their three best tourism villages for best tourism villages at national level.

- Step #6 MoT review and evaluate the best tourism villages from every state

  • After evaluation of the of all the state level entries the best tourism village of India will be announced and awarded.

Evaluation Process

  • The process of evaluation will be based on the submission in the application form.
  • Both write-up and the attached document will be considered for evaluation.
  • Each question in the application is assigned with marks (also mentioned in the application form).
  • The state will mark each submission.
  • After the evaluation of every entry the best will be selected.

Results

The result will be based on the three stage process

#1
Selection of Best three villages of a district

#2
Selection of Best three villages of a State

#3
Selection of Best Tourism Village of India

Timeline

Tentative Dates Stages of Competition
7 February 2023 Launch of the Event (along with the Tourism side event at Rann of Kutch)
7 February – 15 April 2023 District Applications
16 April – 31 May 2023 District Evaluation
1 June – 15 July 2023 State Evaluation
16 July – 30 August 2023 National Evaluation
27 September 2023 Award Ceremony

Important Note

  • All Questions, PDF and check box are mandatory.
  • Write up should not be more than 100 words.
  • The PDF size should be less than 2 MB.
  • No financial compensation will be given in connection with the recognition.
  • The contact information provided by the district/ state should be correct for establishing any contact during the evaluation process if needed.
  • The information included in the candidacy is the full responsibility of the district/state and must be true. Ministry of Tourism, Government of India shall not be liable for any false, inaccurate, obsolete, incomplete or erroneous data submitted by the candidates. In such a case, the participant shall be automatically excluded from the evaluation process district/state.
  • The online application form and the relevant document must be submitted in English language only. Information in any other language will not be considered.
  • By submitting their application, candidates expressly grant their consent to the use of their name and initiatives in connection with the Best Tourism Village.
  • Under no circumstances shall Ministry of Tourism, Government of Tourism be responsible to candidates for any loss, direct, indirect, incidental, special or consequential damage, liability or expense incurred or suffered that is claimed to have resulted from or in connection with the Best Tourism Village Competition
  • By submitting their application, districts/states acknowledge their acceptance of the entire content of these tool kit.
  • Ministry of Tourism at its sole discretion, may adjust these Terms and Conditions at any time and in any way deemed necessary in order to carry out the procedures herein established.
  • Ministry of Tourism at its sole discretion, may adjust these Terms and Conditions at any time and in any way deemed necessary in order to carry out the procedures herein established.
Click Here to Register
Registration form for Best Village Competition - INDIA
Requisites for Application:

In line with the Village Competition, a village must present the following features to be eligible for application:

  • Low population density and not exceeding 25,000 inhabitants
  • Located in radius of famous places, Tourist destination or landscape
  • Having Traditional activities including fishery, agriculture, forestry, livestock
  • Having history of community values or based on past achievements
General Information

Tourism Potential and Infrastructure (marks/45)

1.

Describe how the village to promote tourism as a driver for tourism in all of its elements, including economic, social, and environmental.

Please attach a Brief on development of village with adequate pictures and write up (pdf format).
2.

Does the Village have any existing recognized cultural (tangible and intangible) and natural resources?

Please attach the details with adequate pictures and write up ( max. 100 words and in pdf format)
3.

Does the village implemented policies, measures and initiatives relevant to showcase how the village is committed to the promotion and conservation of its cultural resources which make it unique and authentic?

Please attach the details with adequate pictures and write up ( max. 100 words and in pdf format)
4.

Please describe the main policies, measures and initiatives relevant to showcase how the village is committed to promote economic sustainability supporting business development, entrepreneurship, value chain integration, investment and the positive impact of tourism in the local economy. Please attach the details with adequate pictures and write up (max. 100 words and in pdf format)

  • a) Does the village disseminate and/or promote policies, measures and initiatives to support the access to finance for tourism development?

  • b) Does the village disseminate and/or promote policies, measures and initiatives to support and encourage tourism investment?

  • c) Does the village disseminate and/or promote a framework that is conducive to business development, particularly for tourism Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and entrepreneurship?

5.

Describe the main policies, measures and initiatives relevant to showcase how the village is committed to promote social inclusion and equality by catalysing and spreading the benefits of tourism.

Please attach the details with adequate pictures and write up ( max. 100 words and in pdf format)

  • a) Does the village disseminate and/or promote policies, measures and initiatives to foster employment in the tourism sector?

  • b) Does the village disseminate and/or promote policies, measures and initiatives to advance women empowerment and gender balance in tourism?

  • c) Does the village disseminate and/or promote policies, measures and initiatives, to advance accessibility for travellers with specific access requirements?

  • d) Does the tourism private sector is committed to Social Sustainability in line with the SDGs?
6.

Please describe the main policies, measures and initiatives relevant to showcase how the village is committed to environmental sustainability through the promotion and/or dissemination of policies, measures and initiatives that advance the preservation and conservation of its natural resources and minimize the impact of tourism development on the environment.

Please attach the details with adequate pictures and write up ( max. 100 words and in pdf format)

  • a) Does the village disseminate and/or promotes policies, measures and initiatives, for the preservation and conservation of natural resources?

  • b) Does the village disseminate and/or promote policies, measures and initiatives aimed at fighting climate change?

  • c) Does the village disseminate and/or promote policies, measures and initiatives, to reduce single-use plastics in tourism?

  • d) Does the tourism private sector is committed to Environmental Sustainability in line with the SDGs?

7.

Describe the main policies, measures and initiatives relevant to showcase how the village is committed to make tourism a strategic pillar for development and how the village promotes a governance model based on public-private partnerships, cooperation with other government levels and the engagement of the community in tourism planning and development.

Please attach the details with adequate pictures and write up (max. 100 words and in pdf format)

  • a) Does the village have accommodation options that reflect and local values?

  • b) Does the village have eating options with local gastronomy and traditional culinary culture?

  • c) Does the village promote products and activities related to local traditions and facilitates their purchase by local businesses and by tourists?
8.

Provide a description of the village’s infrastructure and how it facilitates access and communications that improve the wellbeing of communities, business development as well as the visitor experience.

Please attach the details with adequate pictures and write up ( max. 100 words and in pdf format)
9.

Please provide a description of the village’s health, safety and security systems to safeguard residents and tourists.
Please attach the details with adequate pictures and write up ( max. 100 words and in pdf format)

  • a) Does the village has/is part of a public health, safety and security plan/system?

  • b) In case of vulnerability to natural disasters, the village has/is part of an emergency plan?

Contribution in Tourism (Marks/25 )

1.

Are you satisfied with the village’s vision on the contribution of tourism for development? If yes, then elaborate.

Please attach the details with adequate pictures and write up ( max. 100 words and in pdf format)
2.

Two Creative & Innovative initiatives that you think will make a critical contribution to your objectives stated above.

Please attach the details with adequate pictures and write up ( max. 100 words and in pdf format)
3.

Why the village should be selected as the Best Tourism Village and its contribution in relation to tourism afterwards?

Please attach the details with adequate pictures and write up ( max. 100 words and in pdf format)
4.

Has the Village contributed in development of Tourism cluster? If yes, then elaborate.

Please attach the details with adequate pictures and write up ( max. 100 words and in pdf format)

5.

How the village has contributed in advancement of sustainable development Goals?

Please attach the details with adequate pictures and write up ( max. 100 words and in pdf format)

Plan of Action (Marks/25 )

1.

Does the village face threat and challenges to the sustainability of tourism development in the village? If yes, then elaborate

Please attach the detailed write up ( max. 100 words and in pdf format)
2.

Next 5-year development strategy for the village and how will they respond to the threats?

Please attach the detailed write up ( max. 100 words and in pdf format)
3.

How this development strategy will contribute to the conservation of local culture and natural assets?

Please attach the detailed write up ( max. 100 words and in pdf format)
4.

Describe the support and role of stakeholders and local community in promotion of tourism in village.

Please attach the detailed write up ( max. 100 words and in pdf format)
5.

How will the village monitor the progress of Tourism through these actions?

Please attach the detailed write up ( max. 100 words and in pdf format)
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