DHORDO VILLAGE – GEOGRAPHY

News: ‘World’s Best Tourism Village’: ‘Dedication of people of Kutch’, says PM as Dhordo wins UNWTO recognition

 

What's in the news?

       The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today hailed the Dhordo village in Kutch district of Gujarat for being awarded as the Best Tourism Village by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

 

About Dhordo Village:

  1. Dhordo village is famous for its cultural extravaganza that showcases the region’s traditional art, music, and crafts.
  2. 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.

  1. It also hosted the first Tourism Working Group Meeting of the G-20 held under India’s presidency.
  2. 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.

  1. They were initially engaged in weaving woollen blankets and veil cloths for the Rabari community.

 

United Nations World Tourism Organization:

       UNWTO is the United Nations agency responsible for promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.

       It is a leading international organization in the field of tourism.

       It promotes tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development and environmental sustainability.

       It offers leadership and support to the sector in advancing knowledge and tourism policies worldwide. 

       It is headquartered in Madrid, Spain.

       Its membership includes 156 countries, 6 territories and over 500 affiliate members.

 

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.

 

Part of Rural Development Program:

       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.