Recently, the Jammu and Kashmir Government initiated the tourism development of 14 new villages in the Budgam district. This transformative step is part of Mission Youth, to create a sustainable rural economy in these regions through the development of tourism infrastructure and identification of untapped tourism potential.
Through the designation of these 14 villages based on tourism potential, the Government has connected local traditions with the global community.
The Tourist Village Development Programme (TVDP) is intended as a strategy for youth empowerment and provides financial support to unemployed youth to start a tourism-related business.
There is direct support available for building homestays to involve local residents in the tourism value chain without incurring large capital investments.
In addition to financial support, the Jammu and Kashmir Government offers assistance in the preparation of a detailed project report (DPR), marketing, and assistance during the project implementation phase.
Historically, Budgam tourism has been focused on a few major tourist destinations, such as Doodhpathri and Yusmarg. However, the addition of 14 new villages to the tourism development program will create a diverse array of tourism opportunities for Budgam that highlight the beauty of the district while showcasing the extensive handicraft traditions that exist in the region.
Ultimately, through the development of tourism infrastructure and supporting local community entrepreneurship, the Jammu and Kashmir Government is building not only infrastructure (e.g., roads and facilities) in rural areas, but also communities where the youth of Budgam will be the primary beneficiaries of their own economic future.
Although the initiative is primarily more beneficial to the people of Budgam. However, the decision of declaring more areas as tourist villages will be beneficial beyond the central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
With this decision more and more tourists are expected to visit the beautiful landscapes and hamlets of Jammu and Kashmir.
The government should identify further more areas and the villages of Jammu and Kashmir that can be potentially declared as tourist villages so that it can be beneficial for the youth of other districts as well.
