Role of UNESCO Heritage Sites for the Sustainability of Rural Resorts in the Post-COVID Era: A Case of Rural Resorts of Aurangabad, India

This article is based and focused more upon the current debate on the topic of sustainability of the rural resorts post-coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19), especially in the peripheral region of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) heritage sites of Aurangabad. Rural tourism is one of the fastest-growing segments of the tourism industry in India. In recent years, in states like Maharashtra, Aurangabad has been considered as a spot for the development of rural tourism, but districts like Pune and Baramati have already carved their niche on the global platform. Ajanta & Ellora, the first UNESCO heritage site of India, is also one of the major tourist attractions of Aurangabad. The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted the hotel and tourism industry of the Aurangabad district. In particular, it addresses the need to identify strategic actions and the measures that should be taken, especially during the pandemic or any crisis situation, to enhance rural tourism and its growth in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra. Rural tourism post-COVID-19 can be one of the strongest forces that has a strong potential to alter the lifestyle, income pattern and employment opportunities and restore the rich heritage and traditions of Aurangabad. Also in support of the theoretical and methodological reflections and in order to understand rural tourism in detail, this article presents a case study of the two agri-tourisms of Aurangabad. This article concludes by discussing and highlighting the results that emerged during the discussion of these two agri-tourisms, which were termed AF-1 and AF-2, also during the preparation of the case highlighting the sustainability, rural tourism development post-COVID recovery strategy, measures and steps towards hygiene and cleanliness and even the training related to the hygiene and cleanliness at the resorts.