Uttar Pradesh Aims to Attract More Tourists by 2028 | 26 Aug 2024

Why in News?

According to the sources, Uttar Pradesh is set to become a premier tourism destination in India, with an ambitious goal of attracting 80 crore tourists by the year 2028.

Key Points

  • Uttar Pradesh saw a surge in tourist numbers, from 23 crore in 2016-17 to 48 crore in 2023-24, a growth of 51%.
  • The state government is developing 12 new tourism circuits across the state to enhance and promote key locations.
    • 12 new tourism circuits are: Ramayana Circuit, Sufi-Kabir Circuit, Bundelkhand Circuit, Jain Circuit, Krishna-Braj Circuit, Shakti-Peeth Circuit, Mahabharata Circuit, Wildlife & ECO Tourism Circuit, Swantantrata Sangram Circuit, Aadhyatmik Circuit, Buddhist Circuit and Craft Circuit.
  • Efforts are being made to improve local infrastructure and accommodation options to cater to the growing number of tourists.
  • The state is focusing on spiritual tourism, with many devotees visiting religious sites such as Ayodhya, Kashi, Mathura, Naimisharanya, and Prayagraj.
  • The Chief Minister has emphasized the need to promote tourism alongside industrial development, leveraging the state's cultural and spiritual assets like the Taj Mahal and Ram Mandir to boost the tourism sector's contribution

Important Fairs of Uttar Pradesh

  • Taj Mahotsav:
    • It is a vibrant 10-day festival held annually at Shilpgram in Agra. This celebration draws inspiration from the rich Mughal and Nawabi culture that thrived in Uttar Pradesh during the 18th and 19th centuries.
  • Kumbh Mela:
    • It is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, celebrated by Hindus.
    • The festival is held at Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik every four years by rotation.
      • Pilgrims gather to bathe in the sacred rivers (Ganges, Yamuna, Saraswati, Godavari, and Shipra), seeking spiritual purification.
  • Ganga Mahotsav:
    • The Ganges River is very important to India and has supported many civilizations along its banks. A festival is celebrated in Varanasi during the Karthik month to thank the river goddess for her blessings and to ask for more.
    • The ghats are decorated with lights and flowers, and on Karthik Poornima, people gather by the river to light and float earthen lamps.