Khonoma among India’s 50 tourist destinations

Khonoma, widely recognized as Asia’s first green village, has now secured its position among India’s top 50 tourist destinations.

This announcement was made by Temjen Imna Along, the Minister for Tourism and Higher Education, during his recent visit to the village. Speaking at a special event held in his honor at Terhotsiese, Khonoma Community Hall, Along highlighted the potential of Khonoma village and its selection as one of the 50 tourist destinations in the Tourism Challenge Mode project by the Ministry of Tourism. Upon arrival, Along was welcomed by Salhoutuono Kruse, the Minister for Horticulture and Woman Resource Development, along with representatives from the Khonoma Village Council, Khonoma Youth Organisation, and Khonoma Eco Tourism Committee.

It’s worth noting that the announcement regarding the selection and development of 50 tourism destinations was made by Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman, during the presentation of the Union Budget 2023-24 on February 1st. These destinations will be chosen through a challenge mode approach, utilizing an integrated and innovative methodology, with a focus on attracting both domestic and foreign tourists. As part of this initiative, an app will be launched to provide comprehensive information on various aspects of these tourist destinations, including physical and virtual connectivity, tourist guides, high-quality food streets, and enhanced security measures, aimed at enhancing the overall tourist experience.

The budget proposal also emphasized the importance of strengthening domestic tourism through sector-specific skill development and entrepreneurship programs, aligning with the objectives of the “Dekho Apna Desh” initiative. Additionally, the Vibrant Villages Programme will facilitate the development of tourist infrastructure and amenities, particularly in border villages, to encourage tourism. Salhoutuono Kruse expressed gratitude to Imna Along in a tweet for recognizing Khonoma as one of the country’s top 50 tourist destinations.