Lucknow/Agra, Amrit Vichar: Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh said that the state is now moving from ‘Graveyard Economy’ of the year 2017 towards ‘Temple Economy’, where faith, culture and tourism are strengthening local employment and economy. He said that during Braj Rangotsav 2026, more than 44 lakh tourists reached Braj region during the main days of Holi, which gave a new boost to religious tourism.
The Culture Minister said on Monday that from Mathura-Vrindavan to Ayodhya and Varanasi, the major pilgrimage sites of the state are gaining global recognition. In the year 2025, about 10.24 crore devotees will reach Mathura alone. Recently, projects worth about Rs 300 crore have been approved for the development of Braj region, which includes four-lane road and connectivity related works between Mathura-Vrindavan. He said that due to expansion of tourism facilities in Braj region, conservation of pilgrimage sites and cultural events, the number of tourists is continuously increasing in February-March.