REVITALISATION OF RURAL AREAS THRUGH TOURISM

India lies in her villages. Nearly 98 per cent of the total geographical area of India constitutes rural areas, in which 72 per cent of the total population (70.98 per cent according to 2001 census) live. Since independence most of the national policies have been focusing upon rural development. But issues like poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, regional imbalances, and environmental degradation through deforestation; health and sanitary factors in rural areas remain unsolved. Many of the planners blame commercial viability for this matter. At the same time these rural areas posses natural and socio-cultural resources, which are fantastic sources for tourism and recreation. Systematic tourism development in rural areas through public participation can contribute towards the socio-economic development of these areas, and on the other hand it can increase the attraction base for the modern tourists, which ultimately brings in foreign currencies and contributes to the GDP of the country. In lieu of the above, the present paper focuses upon the following: · To conceptualize tourism in rural areas. · To study the challenge, that rural India is facing. · To study the socio-economic contribution of tourism to the rural areas. · To study the possible adverse impact upon environment and suggest a balance sheet