To promote rural tourism and more, to multiply livelihood options for the villagers, two villages — Mawra and Ganela in Almora’s Ranikhet area — have been identified for implementation of the Uttarakhand Rural Tourism Development Scheme.
Proposals of Rs 50 lakh for each village have been submitted to the state tourism department to develop tourism infrastructure in these villages, said the Almora-based district tourism department officials,
Further, the officials stated that among basic infrastructure services, providing for proper accommodation facility for the prospective tourists is vital to boost things under the aegis of the rural tourism programme. With this in view, people from the two villages may add two additional rooms to their existing residences, equipping them with the basic amenities for the tourists, they said, adding that this would help them to add substantially to their income.
It is also stated that the villagers can avail loan facilities under the Uttarakhand Rural Tourism Development Scheme.
The villagers may collect the application forms for loans from the tourist office based in Ranikhet or regional tourism office based in Almora, added the officials.
The selection of applicants for loan to go for expansion of their premises will be done by a committee headed by the district magistrate, Almora, added the officials.