Context:
Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the top state for domestic tourism in India, attracting an impressive 65 crore tourist visits in 2024–25.
More on News:
- Among domestic tourists, the highest numbers originated from Andhra Pradesh, followed by Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.
- The majority of international visitors came from Thailand, with South Korea and Myanmar ranking next.
- The Directorate of Tourism, State Tourism and Culture Minister underscored the pivotal role of tourism in advancing Uttar Pradesh’s vision of becoming a $1 trillion economy.
- During the meeting, consulting firm Deloitte presented an in-depth proposal on harnessing artificial intelligence to monitor tourist inflow and develop data-driven strategies for future growth.
- The meeting also revealed that, on average, an overnight tourist in Uttar Pradesh spends about ₹5,400, while long-term visitors spend approximately ₹7,500.
Uttar Pradesh Tourism
- Directorate of Tourism
- About: Established in 1972, the Directorate of Tourism serves as the developmental, promotional, and regulatory wing of the Government of Uttar Pradesh.
- Objectives:
- Responsible for planning and implementing central and state schemes to develop and improve tourism infrastructure statewide.
- Supports the private sector with incentives for tourist facilities and promotes Uttar Pradesh’s tourist destinations and products.
- Uttar Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation (UPSTDC)
- About: It was established in 1974 under the Companies Act, 1956.
- Objectives:
- UPSTDC was established to provide tourist accommodations, restaurants, and wayside amenities.
- It focuses on developing recreational centers and organizing package tours to promote tourism.
- Operates 45 tourist bungalows/hotels and manages 13 UPTOURS divisions.
- Facilitates Public-Private Partnerships through transparent lease, sale, or revenue-sharing models.
- World Bank Pro-Poor Project
- About: The Uttar Pradesh Pro-Poor Tourism Development Project, funded by the World Bank, seeks to harness the state’s rich cultural and historical heritage to promote inclusive growth.
- The project focuses on pro-poor tourism initiatives aimed at reducing poverty in economically disadvantaged but heritage-rich regions of the state.
- Objectives:
- The primary goal is to improve local residents’ well-being—especially the poor—by creating jobs and enhancing public services in the state’s most underprivileged yet culturally important areas.
- Improving management of the state’s natural and cultural assets to drive inclusive growth.
- Encouraging private investment to create jobs, especially for youth and women.
- Utilizing skill and hotel management institutes to train and place workers in hospitality support roles with industry collaboration.
- Braj Teerth Vikas Parishad
- About: Established under the UP Braj Planning and Development Board Act, 2015, formerly known as the Braj Planning and Development Board.
- Objective: To coordinate and monitor integrated tourism development and heritage conservation in the Braj region, and advise local bodies in Mathura on projects impacting heritage resources.
- About: The Uttar Pradesh Pro-Poor Tourism Development Project, funded by the World Bank, seeks to harness the state’s rich cultural and historical heritage to promote inclusive growth.
- Vision
- To establish Uttar Pradesh as a preferred tourism destination in India, and achieve country’s highest tourist arrival and tourism receipts, driving employment generation and ensuring best visitor experience.
- Mission
- To drive a sense of inclusive tourism development in the local community of Uttar Pradesh, and make optimum use of the tourism experiences across vibrant cities, attractions, nature, wildlife, adventure, food, handicraft (including the promotion of One District One Product Scheme), heritage, religion and culture of Uttar Pradesh.
