The Ministry of Tourism launched the Best Tourism Villages Competition to honour a village that best exemplifies a tourism destination which preserves cultural and natural assets, promotes community-based values and lifestyles and has a clear commitment to sustainability in all its aspects – economic, social and environmental. Applications were invited under the following categories:
(i) Best Tourism Villages – Heritage
(ii) Best Tourism Villages – Agri Tourism
(iii) Best Tourism Villages – Craft
(iv) Best Tourism Villages – Responsible Tourism
(v) Best Tourism Villages – Vibrant Villages
(vi) Best Tourism Villages – Adventure Tourism
(vii) Best Tourism Villages – Community-Based Tourism
(viii) Best Tourism Villages – Wellness
Applications were submitted and processed online through portal and involved evaluation at the District, State and National levels.
In the first edition of the Best Tourism Village Competition held in 2023, a total of 35 villages were recognized as Best Tourism Villages. The list of the selected villages is given at Annexure.