Lucknow, 14 June (HS): Uttar Pradesh is positioning tourism,

culture, and heritage as key pillars of its economic transformation, with a

strong emphasis on infrastructure development, private investment, and

destination enhancement to support the state's goal of becoming a $1 trillion

economy by 2029-30, according to key state policymakers. Uttar Pradesh Tourism

and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh and Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism,

Culture, and Religious Affairs Department, Amrit Abhijat, outlined the state's

roadmap for leveraging tourism-led growth, emphasizing major investments,

policy reforms, and infrastructure initiatives aimed at converting Uttar

Pradesh's unparalleled tourism scale into long-term economic value.

Uttar Pradesh is already India's most visited state in terms

of domestic visitor arrivals, contributing to high-value tourism. However, the

state's approach is shifting away from luring big numbers of tourists and

toward developing high-value tourism experiences that drive increased spending,

employment, and investment.

Uttar Pradesh already has the distinction of being India's most visited state

in terms of domestic tourism arrivals. The next issue will be to ensure that

this scale results in value creation, job development, and long-term economic

growth, according to Abhijat. The state focuses on MICE (Meetings, Incentives,

Conferences, and Exhibitions), wellness tourism, heritage hospitality,

experiential tourism, cultural tourism, and premium hospitality initiatives.

Tourism infrastructure is considered as a holistic ecosystem that encompasses

destination management, skilling, marketing assistance, and ease of doing

business, in addition to physical infrastructure. Uttar Pradesh's tourist

budget has gone whopping in the previous six years, rising from 1,023 crore in

FY20 to 2,037 crore in FY26.

Tourism infrastructure in focus: According to Singh, the state's development

plan has moved beyond expressways, airports, and industrial corridors to

include tourism and cultural infrastructure as important economic growth

engines. The government created a massive tourist ecosystem that included

religious corridors, tourism circuits, museums, eco-tourism attractions,

wellness centers, homestays, rural tourism hubs, and cultural resources. As a

result, Uttar Pradesh expects more than 156 crore tourist visits in 2025,

nearly tripling the amount reported in 2016. Flagship projects like the Kashi

Vishwanath Dham Corridor, Ayodhya Dham, Vindhya Corridor, and infrastructure

built around Maha Kumbh 2025 have proved the direct economic benefit of

tourism-led infrastructure development.

The temple economy is thriving: Visitor numbers to the

state's major pilgrimage sites have increased to an unprecedented level. In

2025, Ayodhya had about 30 crore visitors, Varanasi had over 17.3 crore

tourists and pilgrims, and Mathura had more than 10.24 crore. Singh defined

this tendency as the emergence of a 'Temple Economy' that creates chances in

hospitality, transportation, handicrafts, retail, and local services. This growth is a direct outcome of

improved infrastructure, enhanced connectivity and world-class visitor

facilities, he declared.

Policy changes to entice private investors: The Uttar Pradesh tourist Policy

2022 has emerged as a significant impetus for private investment in tourist

infrastructure. The strategy provides up to 25% capital subsidies across 33

tourist sectors, as well as stamp duty exemptions.

Benefits are now available for projects within 20 km within

recognized tourism circuits, but the government is contemplating expanding

these incentives across the state. According to Abhijat, tourist infrastructure

ideas totaling more than 41,500 crore have already gotten certifications under

the policy framework, while Singh stated that investment proposals totaling

more than 36,000 crore have advanced under the state's tourism development

initiatives. The government is also increasing assistance for privately

constructed roadside facilities, which are recognized as important components

of the visitor experience.

Integrated destination development: Implementing Integrated Tourism Development

Projects, which incorporate tourism attractions, infrastructure, visitor

amenities, and destination beautification within a cohesive framework, is a

critical component of the state's tourism plan.

Varanasi is already experiencing this strategy as part of

the Government of India's One State, One Global Destination project. The

concept is being expanded to include locations including Naimisharanya, Devi

Patan, Braj, Kaushambi, Sitapur, and Mirzapur. Naimisharanya's initiatives include

integrated master planning, pilgrim lodging, parking infrastructure, pedestrian

corridors, wellness attractions, the Ved Vigyan Kendra, and ghat construction.

Similar renovations are planned for Devi Patan and the Vindhyachal area,

including better ghats, tourism facilitation centers, public art projects,

heliport infrastructure, and increased connectivity. The state is also working

on a Tourism Infrastructure Matrix to standardize tourism amenities and

identify infrastructure gaps between sites.

Beyond religious tourism: While religious tourism remains important, Uttar

Pradesh is gradually broadening its tourist portfolio. The state has created

around a dozen tourist circuits, including Ramayana, Krishna-Braj, Buddhist,

Shaktipeeth, Mahabharata, SufiKabir, and eco-tourism circuits. New theme

circuits are being proposed, including the Bundelkhand Fort Circuit, Neem

Karoli Baba Circuit, Nath Corridor, and Guru Gorakhnath Spiritual Circuit. Buddhist tourism is growing as a significant

development area. Infrastructure is being improved in important tourist

attractions like as Sarnath, Kushinagar, Shravasti, Sankisa, and Kaushambi. The

recent Kushinagar Buddhist Conclave drew investment bids totaling almost 3,000

crore, indicating increased investor confidence in the area. The state is also

planning an International Yoga and Wellness Centre in Baghpat to further boost

Uttar Pradesh's standing in the global wellness tourist sector.

The government is putting more focus on community-led

tourism, including homestays, rural tourism projects, and the Visit My State

campaign. 234 villages are being developed as tourist centers, bolstering UP's

aspiration to become India's rural tourism capital while also providing direct

livelihood prospects for local residents. The addition of Salkhan Fossil Park

in Sonbhadra to UNESCO's Tentative List has enhanced efforts to promote

natural, geological, scientific, and knowledge-based tourism.

Museums as tourist catalysts: The state is investing in a variety of museum

initiatives that mix education, culture, and tourism. Nausena Saurya

Sangrahalay in Lucknow, showcasing the history of the Indian Navy; Chhatrapati

Shivaji Sangrahalay, dedicated to Maratha heritage; Firozabad Glass Museum,

celebrating the city's glass-making traditions; and SUN Interpretation Centre

in Mahoba, focusing on the scientific and cultural significance of the Sun in

Indian civilisation.

Plans are in the works to develop a Tourism Research, Data,

and Documentation Cell to promote evidence-based policymaking and destination

design. Public-private partnerships are projected to play a critical role in

the next phase of tourist infrastructure development. One of the most

significant projects is the proposed Ayodhya Temple Museum, formally titled

Museum of Indian Temple Architecture, which is being developed collaboratively

by the Government of India, the Government of Uttar Pradesh, and Tata Sons Pvt.

Ltd. The state is also advancing adaptive reuse of heritage assets following

the transfer of 37 de-notified heritage structures from the Archaeological

Survey of India. Private operators will be encouraged within the PPP framework

to repair and commercialize these sites while conserving their historical

character. Seven notable archaeological sites have been identified, including

Chattar Manzil, Chunar Fort, Baruasagar Fort, Barsana Jal Mahal, and Kothi

Gulistan-e-Eram.

UP is modernizing its Rahi Tourist Bungalow network through

long-term concession agreements with private operators. Three of the 37

selected sites are already functioning, with the remaining 11 in development.

To boost the state's MICE ecosystem, City MICE Bureaus will be developed on the

PPP model, offering conferences, exhibits, and event organizers with a single

point of contact.

Tourism infrastructure development is no longer just about constructing tourist

amenities; it has evolved into a strategic instrument for attracting

investment, creating jobs, improving local livelihoods, and boosting economic

progress. With its immense cultural, spiritual, historical, and natural

resources, UP is pursuing a tourist-led development strategy in which

expressways, airports, religious corridors, museums, heritage sites, and

tourism circuits collaborate to produce long-term economic benefit. The state

moves closer to its goal of a $1 trillion economy, with tourism, culture, and

legacy driving UP's success.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi