Commissioned by Ministry of Tourism and United Nations Development Programme, this project formed part of a nationwide initiative focused on rural tourism development across 36 pilot sites throughout India.
The assignment emerged from a need to critically examine and document the insights generated through these diverse pilot interventions, each offering valuable lessons on the relationship between tourism development, community participation, and local socio-cultural dynamics.
Undertaken in 2008, the project involved an extensive review of these rural tourism initiatives, exploring the opportunities, challenges, and broader implications of creating tourism models that are both economically viable and socially sensitive.
The outcome was a comprehensive body of work comprising a detailed review report, an audiovisual documentary titled Redefining Tourism – Voices from Rural India, and a design dossier/manual intended as a practical and reflective resource.
Conceived as a companion to the documentary, the dossier captures the experiences and perspectives of policymakers, project implementers, and community stakeholders. It offers a nuanced understanding of the complexities involved in rural tourism development, particularly at the intersection of local identity, community agency, and economic opportunity.
The manual concludes with a structured framework of tools, strategies, and guidelines designed to support policymakers, researchers, and practitioners in developing sustainable, culturally sensitive, and community-responsive tourism initiatives.
The project stands as an important contribution to the discourse on responsible tourism, offering a practical roadmap for creating tourism models that respect local contexts while enabling meaningful development.
- Property/Project Name: Incredible India
- Location: India
- Project Type: UNDP Design Manual
- Category: Research
- Client: Ministry of Tourism and United Nations Development Programme
- Year: 2008
