The village of Dhordo, renowned for hosting the annual Rann Utsav, has achieved international acclaim by being named the “Best Tourism Village” by the United Nations Best Tourism Village. Notably, Dhordo is the sole village in the entire country to receive this prestigious recognition.
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) recently unveiled its list of Best Tourism Villages for 2023. This accolade acknowledges villages that excel in nurturing rural regions and preserving their landscapes, cultural diversity, local traditions, and culinary heritage. Ms. Manisha Saxena, Director General of Tourism in the Ministry of Tourism, received the award on behalf of Dhordo.
In the third edition of the Best Tourism Village awards, 54 villages from diverse regions were selected from nearly 260 applications. An additional 20 villages have been included in the Upgrade Programme, and all 74 villages are now part of the UNWTO Best Tourism Villages Network. The announcement of these villages took place during the UNWTO General Assembly held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
The dedicated efforts of Lallooji and Sons’ team played a pivotal role in supporting Gujarat Tourism to achieve this remarkable milestone. Nikhil Agarwal, Managing Partner of Lallooji and Sons, expressed his pride in Dhordo’s inclusion in the UNWTO Best Tourism Villages 2023, emphasizing the village’s vital role in promoting tourism in the Kutch region.
He credited the residents of Dhordo for their contributions, which have aligned with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat. Agarwal also highlighted the collaboration with Gujarat Tourism and the villagers of Dhordo in hosting the Rann Utsav and expressed optimism about contributing to the region’s growth.
Bhavik Sheth, COO of Evoke Experiences, the luxury hospitality division of Lallooji and Sons, attributed the honor to the continuous support and vision of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Gujarat Tourism. Ananta Prasad, Sustainable Tourism Campaigner.
These villages are evaluated based on nine key parameters, encompassing Cultural and Natural Resources, Promotion and Conservation of Cultural Resources, Economic Sustainability, Social Sustainability, Environmental Sustainability, Tourism Development and Value Chain Integration, Governance and Prioritization of Tourism, Infrastructure and Connectivity, Health, Safety, and Security.
Also Read
Watch on Youtube
