Gujarat’s Dhordo village gets UNWTO recognition

Published: 26th Oct, 2023

Context:

Recently, the list of Best Tourism Villages 2023 has been released by United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) where the Dhordo village of Gujarat made to get included in it.

About the List of Best Tourism Villages 2023:

The villages are evaluated under nine key areas, including;
- 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
Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO recognizes outstanding rural tourism destinations with accredited cultural and natural assets, a commitment to preserving community-based values, and a clear commitment to innovation and sustainability across economic, social, and environmental dimensions.

About Dhordo Village:

Dhordo village is famour for its cultural extravaganza that showcases the region’s traditional art, music, and crafts.
The village is home to an annual 3-month festival called 'Rann Utsav'.

The Rann Utsav is a fun festival that takes place annually at the Rann of Kutch.
A vibrant carnival that brims with song, dance, culture, adventure and art, it is said that during it, the beauty of the pristine land of Bhuj is accentuated on full moon nights.
Golf carts, ATV rides, paintball, camel safaris, game cart excursions, paramotoring, and horse and camel rides are also a part of the celebration.

It also hosted the first Tourism Working Group Meeting of the G-20 held under India’s presidency.
Major Art forms:
- Dhamadka Block Printing: There are many printers using madder roots for printing red colour, rusty iron solution for black colour and indigo for blue colour.
- Bhujodi Textile Handicrafts: The weavers of Bhujodi are believed to be Vankars or Mughal migrants who came 500 years ago from Rajasthan.
They were initially engaged in weaving woollen blankets and veil cloths for the Rabari community.

United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO):

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), is a United Nations agency working to promote tourism for sustainable development.
The Best Tourism Villages initiative is part of the UNWTO Tourism for Rural Development Programme.
The programme works to foster development and inclusion in rural areas, combat depopulation, advance innovation and value chain integration through tourism and encourage sustainable practices.
The initiative comprises three pillars:
- Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO: Recognizes outstanding rural tourism destinations with accredited cultural and natural assets, a commitment to preserving community-based values, and a clear commitment to innovation and sustainability across economic, social, and environmental dimensions.
- Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO Upgrade Programme: Supports villages on their journey to meet recognition criteria, helping in areas identified as gaps during evaluation.
- The Best Tourism Villages Network: a space for exchanging experiences and good practices, learning, and opportunities among its members, and it is open to contributions of experts and public and private sector partners engaged in the promotion of tourism as a driver for rural development.

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Gujarat’s Dhordo village gets UNWTO recognition

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