Lucknow. Till a decade ago, Taj Mahal and some other historical heritages used to be the center of tourist attraction in Uttar Pradesh, but in recent years, due to the policies of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, the tourism sector has gained unprecedented momentum and today the religious and cultural places located in Prayagraj, Kashi, Mathura, Ayodhya and other districts of the densely populated state are attracting tourists from all over the country and the world.
Due to the renovation of religious, cultural and historical places and development of tourism facilities in Uttar Pradesh, UP has achieved first place in the country in domestic tourism and fourth place in foreign tourism. According to the data of the Union Tourism Ministry, more than 137 crore domestic tourists visited the state in the year 2025, while 3.66 lakh foreign tourists visited the state.
The biggest reason for this was the divine-grand Mahakumbh-2025 organized in Prayagraj, where a record number of more than 66 crore devotees arrived. Apart from this, places like Ayodhya, Varanasi, Mathura-Vrindavan and Shravasti have now become major tourist centers of the country. New possibilities of religious and cultural tourism have developed in the state, along with events like Deepotsav, Rangotsav, Devdeepawali and Magh Mela, organized from time to time by the Department of Tourism and Art and Culture, have become major attractions for tourists from India and abroad.
Uttar Pradesh has been an important center of Indian culture and history, but during the rule of Yogi Adityanath, the tourist places neglected by the previous governments before 2017 were not only revived but also strengthened transportation, hospitality and connectivity. A significant increase in the number of foreign tourists was recorded due to the facilities of airport, train-bus services and hotel-home stay.
This year, the Tourism Department launched ambitious schemes worth Rs 1283.33 crore for the development of tourism in the state. The major ones include beautification of the Ghats of Varanasi, construction of Integrated Circuit House and Convention Centre, development of tourist facility centers on Kalinjar Integrated Road in Chitrakoot and Ram Van Gaman Marg.
Restoration of Bhagwanpur Temple of Moradabad, Ajitashram Yogkunj (birth place) of Shahjahanpur, Lavkush Kuti in Valmikinagar, Tretayug Bhoomi Kuti, Bharatkothi, Sita Rasoi and Kausalya Sthal is going on at a rapid pace. In this sequence, five new projects were started through district tourism units at a cost of Rs 7 crore. Under the Chief Minister Tourism Development Cooperation Scheme, two projects got approval this year, while four more are going to get approval soon.
The Tourism and Culture Department, in collaboration with other departments, has organized many cultural programs from time to time, which have taken tourism to new heights in the state. In this sequence, the biggest event of this year was the Maha Kumbh-2025 organized in Prayagraj. A record number of tourists from India and abroad came to Prayagraj for the grand event of Maha Kumbh.
In this sequence, the lighting of lamps in the grand festival of lights in Ayodhya broke its own old Guinness World Record, while the world’s largest Ram Takht in the Ramlila of Varanasi was also registered in the Guinness Book. Ram Katha, Kathak dance, 3-D hologram and projection mapping enthralled the Ganga Ghat. On Holi, Rangotsav in Braj region, Chilka Holi of Ramnagar, Holi of Kashi and Lathmar Holi of Mathura mesmerized the tourists. In the year 2025, events like Ghaghra Mahotsav, Brahma Mahotsav, Makar Sankranti Mahotsav, Dudhai Fair, Ghazipur Mahotsav, Varanasi Mahotsav, Lalgarh Fair of Chitrakoot led to significant increase in tourist numbers, revenue and local employment.
Uttar Pradesh Tourism Policy-2022, made under the guidance of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, ensured multidimensional development of tourism in the state. Under this, 1757 tourism units have been registered on UP-TourismPortal.in, while investment proposals worth Rs 37,688.58 crore have been received.
Apart from this, the Tourism Department participated in international forums like Zurich Travel Mart, Global Travel Market-2025, Paris Fashion Week, GTAC Tokyo-Sydney, ITB Asia, Fitur-2025 to promote tourism of UP. Also, publicity increased at the national level by participation in ITB India, GTA Patna-Lucknow-Mumbai-Chennai-Delhi, Expo Jaipur etc. Laying emphasis on youth empowerment, the Tourism Department conducted the CM Tourism Fellowship Programme, under which training was provided to the youth. Besides, youth tourism teams were formed in all 75 districts of the state, which are spreading awareness about providing facilities to tourists and preserving culture.
Apart from this, the Tourism Department runs 17 travel-tourism courses in collaboration with the Government of India, which provide employment to the youth of the state in the tourist guide, air hostess, crew cabin and hotel sectors. In this sequence, Phase-2 of the Convention and Exhibition Center in Shahjahanpur has almost been completed at a cost of Rs 46 crore. Under Yuva Travel Mart, youth tourist groups provided assistance to tourists in major tourist destinations and events in Ayodhya, Bareilly, Chandauli, Shahjahanpur, Varanasi, Farrukhabad, Prayagraj and Lucknow.
In an effort to spread awareness and conserve heritage, the Tourism Department organized school quiz and photo competitions in major cities of the state. On World Tourism Day, youth from 11 schools of Lucknow were taken on a tour of major tourist places. Azad Park, Knowledge Hub in Prayagraj and Buddhist Museum in Shravasti are being developed under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme-2.0 of the Central Government.
Besides, the sites of 1857 freedom struggle of Kanpur, Nawabganj temple of Sultanpur-Farrukhabad and Maa Kamakshi Devi temple of Chitrakoot are being developed under the ‘Museum and Heritage Cluster Phase-1’ of the Finance Ministry. An integrated project worth Rs 268 lakh is being completed in Hardoi. The home stay scheme being developed by the department has increased self-employment, while rural tourism is promoting folk songs, dishes and traditions.
Due to the efforts of Yogi government, Uttar Pradesh is now emerging as a global center of tourism, the rejuvenation of religious, cultural and historical places here has become the main attraction for tourists from all over the world. It is not only bringing economic progress in the state, but is also preserving the cultural heritage.
