Lucknow: The land of Uttar Pradesh is very rich in terms of natural, historical, cultural, religious and spiritual heritage and has immense potential for tourism. If nature is kept at the centre during the development of these areas in terms of tourism, then the possibilities of eco-tourism increase further.
These places with the confluence of nature, culture and adventure will become the centre of attraction for tourists from all over the country and across the world. For this, the Yogi government has started making an eco-tourism promotion policy.
Irrigation, Forest, AYUSH, Rural Development and other related departments will have an important participation in this preparation along with the tourism department. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has also directed the concerned departments to take coordinated initiatives in this regard.
Uttar Pradesh is abundantly rich in terms of natural beauty
According to an estimate, about 35 per cent of the tourists prefer to go on eco-holidays with all the basic facilities available there. Incidentally, there are many places in Uttar Pradesh with beautiful natural scenery.
The lowland region of UP is very rich in terms of biological diversity. The dense forests here are the natural habitat of tigers, elephants, deer, crocodiles, dolphins and many species of endangered birds due to the abundant water resources available in them. The forests of Dudhwa, Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri and Katarina Ghat are storehouses of biological diversity. Every year a large number of tourists from all over the country and abroad come to see this biological diversity.
Similarly, the Fossil Park of Sonbhadra, which preserves the history of the beginning of human life, also attracts tourists interested in knowing the history of nature. The 150 million-year-old fossils here are the subject of research for the world. Spread over 25 hectares, this Fossil Park is bigger than Yellowstone Park in America. This is the reason it is included in the largest fossil park in the world.
Saubhari forest area of Braj to also entice tourists
Soon the Saubhari forest will also be inaugurated. CM Yogi Adityanath often says that nature and God have infinite compassion on Uttar Pradesh. In view of these possibilities, the CM gave necessary instructions regarding the formation of the Eco Tourism Board. Earlier, he had reiterated his point that an Eco-tourism Board should be formed to shape the possibilities.
Along with the conservation of heritage trees, the Kukrail picnic spot in Lucknow is also being improved further. Since his first term, CM Yogi’s intention has been to make Uttar Pradesh the country’s favorite destination for eco-tourism. Under this, its scope is being expanded by adding village tourism in view of 9 types of agro-climatic zones (agro-climatic zones) of the state.
Structure of the eco-tourism board
The Chief Minister advises that the tourism department should be the nodal agency of the proposed Eco-Tourism Board. In this, the ministers of the concerned departments, Additional Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary, Director General and Director as well as qualified officers and experts of the Indian Forest Service should be included.
Local youth to get training to become a nature guide
Propagation of tourism and cultural heritage values by the board, skill-building of local communities for hospitality, preparation of travel itinerary for tourists, promotion of ecotourism sites, environmental forest and climate change for undertaking projects and coordination with the department will be done.
Eligible youth will be selected and trained as ‘nature guides’ by the local people in ecotourism, wildlife and other forestry works. The villages situated in the middle of the forests inhabited by wild animals will also be properly settled with their consent.
Mukesh Meshram, Principal Secretary of Tourism, stated, “In totality, for the planned development of the tourism sector in the state in 2018, the tourism policy has mentioned many places in the eco-tourism circuit. According to the intention of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, basic facilities are being developed at all these places for the convenience of the tourists. Moreover, the branding is also being done so that the maximum number of tourists come here and enjoy nature.”
