UP Tourism to honour rural tourism champions on National Tourism Day through State Tourism Awards

To mark National Tourism Day 2026, the Department of Tourism, Government of Uttar Pradesh, announced that the State Tourism Awards will be presented on January 25. The award aims to recognise villages, rural homestays, and farm stays that strengthen tourism through cultural preservation, community participation, and responsible practices.

The awards invite entries under three categories: Best Tourism Village 2026, Best Rural Homestay, and Best Farm Stay. Winners will be honoured with Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards.

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The initiative is designed from a people-centric perspective, encouraging villages, families, farmers, and rural hosts to step forward and showcase their work in creating authentic tourism experiences rooted in local culture, crafts, cuisine, agriculture, and nature. Importantly, all eligible stakeholders can apply, including those who are not currently registered with Uttar Pradesh Tourism.

Speaking on the initiative, Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh said here on Saturday, “Uttar Pradesh is steadily emerging as a national model for agri and rural tourism. We have already registered over 800 rural homestays with the Tourism Department, and our effort is now to bring many more villages, families, and farm stay operators into this ecosystem. Regions such as Gorakhpur, Awad,h and Braj are witnessing strong growth in rural tourism experiences, with visitors coming not only from across India but also from countries like Sri Lanka, Spain, and Germany. Through these awards, we want to recognise those who are preserving local culture, creating livelihoods and offering meaningful hospitality.”

Principal Secretary (Tourism) Amrit Abhijat said, “Tourism is no longer about sightseeing, it is about soul seeing. Rural tourism is India’s ‘soft power’. We aim to connect travellers with rural life so their visit goes beyond a day or two at monuments and becomes a longer pause rooted in culture and simplicity.”

Under the Best Tourism Village 2026 category, villages will be assessed on tourism assets such as heritage, nature, culture, festivals, and unique experiences, along with community participation, sustainability measures, visitor facilities, and overall readiness to host tourists.

The Best Rural Homestay category focuses on authentic rural living experiences, guest comfort, transparency of operations, and actual tourist stays. The Best Farm Stay category recognises farm-based experiences that integrate agriculture, local produce, nature, and professionally managed rural hospitality.

Applications must be submitted online through category-wise registration forms. Stakeholders can also apply by scanning the QR codes shared on the official Uttar Pradesh Tourism website.

The last date for registration and submission is January 20, 2026.