Role of Community in Rural Tourism- A Pilot Study Conducted at Kumbalgodu Panchayat, Karnataka

Abstract

The importance of rural tourism has been widely recognized as an important factor in the development of rural areas. Rural tourism is an instrument for rural development considered to enhance productivity, and income to generate long-term benefits for the villagers. Rural tourism constitutes many varied forms and is pursued for different reasons. Tourism is an innovative idea to promote and regenerate economic growth in rural areas where agriculture collapses and help in diversifying the dispersed marginal agricultural area into adventure tourism or cultural tourism. Rural-based tourism helps in the conservation of local resources. Rural tourism means, any form of tourism that showcases the rural life, art, culture and heritage at rural locations thereby benefiting the local community economically and socially. The social entrepreneurs play a vital role in the rural destination development. Many peripheral rural areas face significant challenges in terms of sustaining communities and attracting tourists. Rural development is important for overall economic development of the country. Through the activation of panchayat raj institutions, it is possible to improve the lifestyle and prosperous of the rural community by providing self-employment, improved infrastructural facilities like communication and road facilities, proper drinking water facilities, highway connectivity, electricity, education, health facilities and many more.