Lucknow: To transform Uttar Pradesh into a ‘hub’ of religious and spiritual tourism as well as a centre of eco-tourism, the Yogi government is working with a 360-degree approach.
The various fairs and festivals organized here throughout the year on the instructions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath are not only accelerating the development of tourism in the state, but have also emerged as key components of the state’s income and employment generation.
In terms of the tourism industry, the past year has been full of remarkable accomplishments. Because of the global pandemic Covid-19, at a time when the tourism industry is suffering massive losses all over the world, it has taken a tremendous leap in the last year in UP.
The immense possibilities in Uttar Pradesh’s tourism sector not only give new hope to investors but there is also hope for large-scale employment generation.
Religious tourism has given new direction and speed
In the last one year, 27,63,38,828 tourists visited Uttar Pradesh, including 27,56,94,233 Indians and 6,44,595 foreign tourists. This number is a significant record in itself. Previously, places of religious significance in the state were neglected, but the Yogi government has transformed these religious sites into the state’s most important centers of development and prosperity.
The tourism industry in Uttar Pradesh has gained a new direction and momentum as a result of year-round fairs and festivals organized around religious sites in the state. Deepotsav in Ayodhya, Rangotsav in Braj and Kashi, Krishnatsav in Mathura, Brajraj Utsav, Geeta Mahotsav, Basant Utsav, and many other local festivals are establishing Uttar Pradesh as the country’s most important tourist center.
Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the country’s largest center of religious tourism, with festivals playing an important role in increasing the number of tourists. The arrival of more than one crore devotees in one year after the inauguration of Kashi Vishwanath Dham has taken everyone by surprise.
Aside from that, there has been an unprecedented increase in the number of religious tourists to Braj, Chitrakoot, Prayagraj, and Ayodhya. After the construction of the grand temple at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya will be completed in 2024, the size of religious tourism in UP will grow faster than expected.
UP provided investors with a ray of hope
Last year, the Yogi government introduced the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Policy 2022 in order to provide better hospitality to tourists in the state. Apart from that, the establishment of Uttar Pradesh Eco Tourism Development Board, Uttar Pradesh Braj Tirth Vikas Parishad, Shri Chitrakoot Dham Tirth Vikas Parishad, and Uttar Pradesh Vindhya Dham Tirth Vikas Parishad in the last year has has increased interest of investors in tourism sector in UP despite the Covid-19 pandemic. This is why, at the UP Global Investors Summit, held in the capital from February 10 to 12, this year, investors came out in force to invest in the tourism sector in UP.
Given the endless possibilities for religious and eco-tourism in UP, big tourism investors have proposed an investment of Rs 1,29,498 lakh crore to the government. The Yogi government is now hopeful that a total of 938 MoUs will result in the creation of approximately 3,52,800 jobs.
Focus on heritage tourism, as well as religious and ecotourism
The Yogi government is now focusing on heritage tourism to improve hospitality experiences in the state, in addition to religious and eco-tourism. Many palaces and ‘havelis’ of heritage significance in the state are being developed for this.
Efforts are being made to strengthen the heritage hotel chain by converting old buildings, forts, havelis, and mansions built before 1950 into hotels. The state Tourism department is converting these structures into heritage hotels, public museums, and MICE (meeting, incentive, conference, and exhibition) centers. The Tourism department has identified 31 such forts in the Bundelkhand region alone. The master plan for this is almost ready. Bundelkhand, once known for drought and rebellion, is now the most popular tourist destination in Uttar Pradesh.
Mukesh Meshram, Principal Secretary of Tourism, stated that the department has organized various festivals in the last year to increase tourism activities in accordance with the Chief Minister’s intention. Good results have been received for tourism-based events from Purvanchal to Bundelkhand. Aside from the tent city and hot air balloon in Varanasi, the government is also moving forward with regional planning in Bundelkhand. To expand tourism activities in the state, adventure sports, wellness tourism, kayaking-canoeing, hot-air ballooning, and a variety of cultural programs and festivals are being organized. This is why the number of tourists visiting UP has reached an all-time high in the last year.