Tourism in Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh stands as India’s leading tourism destination, witnessing a dramatic rise in footfall-from 23 crore in 2016–17 to 48 crore in 2023–24 and aims to attract 80 crore tourists by 2028.

Tourism in Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh stands as India’s leading tourism powerhouse, ranking first in domestic tourist arrivals with over 71 million visitors in year 2024- 2025, owing to its diverse topography, vibrant cultural heritage, iconic festivals, ancient pilgrimage centres, and historic ghats. The state hosts three UNESCO World Heritage Sites- Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Fatehpur Sikri which, along with spiritual circuits like Varanasi, Ayodhya, and Mathura-Vrindavan, make it a magnet for both cultural and religious tourism.

Tourism Diversity in Uttar Pradesh

• Heritage & Cultural Tourism
  • Home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites- Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri. UP forms a global heritage triangle.
  • Cities like Lucknow, Varanasi, Mathura, Ayodhya, and Jhansi showcase rich traditions of music (Kathak), crafts (Chikankari, Zardozi), and architecture (Mughal, Bundela, Nawabi styles).
  • Major cultural events like Taj Mahotsav, Ganga Mahotsav, Kumbh Mela, Lucknow Mahotsav promote folk arts, cuisines, and traditional crafts.
  • Heritage conservation and adaptive reuse have boosted heritage walks, museum culture, and craft villages.
• Religious & Spiritual Tourism

• • Major pilgrimage centres include Ayodhya (Ram Mandir), Varanasi (Kashi Vishwanath), Mathura- Vrindavan, Prayagraj, Vindhyachal, Naimisharanya.
  • The Buddhist Circuit connects Sarnath, Kushinagar, Kapilvastu, and Shravasti, attracting visitors from East and Southeast Asia.
  • Jain Tirthankara sites (Hastinapur), Sufi shrines (Dewa Sharif), Sikh sites (Fatehgarh Sahib), and Christian heritage churches diversify religious tourism.
  • River ghats, Ganga Aarti, and sacred festivals add immersive spiritual experiences.

• Nature, Wildlife & Water-Based Tourism

• • Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, Katarniaghat, and Pilibhit support tiger, rhino, elephant, and rare species conservation, enabling wildlife safaris and eco-trails.
  • Wetlands like Nawabganj, Sandi, and Samaspur make UP a birdwatcher’s paradise.
  • Water-based tourism thrives at riverfronts and dams such as Gunta, Arjun, Dhandhraul, Maudaha, Garhmau, Majhauli Sagar, Nawab Tank, where boating, water sports, trekking, and eco-camping are promoted.
  • River cruise circuits on the Ganga and Yamuna integrate culture, spirituality, and nature-based experiential tourism.

Tourism Infrastructure & Connectivity

Uttar Pradesh is upgrading both physical infrastructure and tourist amenities to enhance accessibility, safety, and visitor comfort.

• Road Connectivity:  Expressway network (Purvanchal, Bundelkhand, Ganga, Agra–Lucknow, Yamuna Expressways) connects major tourist destinations within hours.

• • Highway upgrades, rural road connectivity, ropeways in Vindhyachal, Chitrakoot, and Varanasi enhance mobility in hilly and congested pilgrimage zones.

• Rail Connectivity: High-speed Vande Bharat trains link Delhi- Varanasi, Delhi- Ayodhya, Lucknow- Ayodhya, and Gorakhpur- Banaras.

• • Tourist-special trains for circuits like the Buddhist Circuit and Ramayana Circuit attract domestic and international pilgrims.

• Air Connectivity: Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of operational airports. For example: Ayodhya International Airport, Kushinagar International Airport (Buddhist pilgrimage), and Jewar International Airport (future tourism hub).

• Urban Amenities & Tourism Facilities: Development of riverfronts, ghats, modern hotels, homestays, eco-resorts, convention centres, and sanitation infrastructure.

• • Smart City projects in Varanasi, Ayodhya, Prayagraj include LED streetlights, surveillance, public wi-fi, smart mobility, and beautification.

• Digital Tourism Infrastructure: Digi-signage, QR codes at monuments, e-ticketing, audio guides, and mobile apps for tourist assistance.

• • GIS mapping of tourist places for route planning and emergency response.

Economic Significance of Tourism in UP

Tourism is a major economic engine in Uttar Pradesh, contributing significantly to GSDP and livelihoods.

• Employment Generation: Creates direct jobs in hotels, restaurants, transport, tour operations, river cruises, and guides.

• • Indirect jobs in handicrafts (Chikankari, Zardozi, Banarasi silk), local food industries, cultural performers, and small vendors.

• Boost to MSME & Local Crafts: Festivals like Taj Mahotsav and Ganga Mahotsav provide markets for artisans.

• • Heritage tourism revives craft clusters and handloom industries, enhancing rural incomes.

• Investment & Revenue Growth: UP Tourism Policy 2022 aims to attract ₹20,000 crore investment and generate 10 lakh jobs.

• • Increased footfall boosts state revenues via ticket sales, hospitality taxes, and transport services.

• Inclusive Development: Community-based tourism models empower boatmen, weavers, farmers, forest dwellers, women SHGs and tribal groups.

• • Rural tourism circuits create decentralised income opportunities.

Government Initiatives to promote Tourism in UP

• Uttar Pradesh Tourism Policy 2022: The Tourism Policy 2022 seeks to position UP as a global tourism hub through investment promotion, sustainable development, and improved tourist experiences. Key features include:

• • Development of Focus Tourism Destinations (FTDs), Investment Incentives, Industry Status to Tourism, Capital Subsidies up to ₹40 crore for mega tourism projects; up to ₹2 crore for smaller units, Promotion of Tourism Circuits.
• Major Tourism Circuits: Uttar Pradesh has conceptualised and strengthened multiple theme-based circuits to diversify tourism offerings and improve regional balance. These include: Ramayana Circuit, Krishna– Braj Circuit, Buddhist Circuit, Sufi– Kabir Circuit, Wildlife & Eco Tourism Circuit

• • These circuits create structured travel routes, improve local infrastructure, and promote district-level tourism growth.
• Spiritual Corridor Development: Uttar Pradesh is investing heavily in spiritual infrastructure to strengthen faith-based tourism. 
  • For example, Kashi Vishwanath Dham Corridor, Varanasi, Ayodhya Ram Mandir Complex, Mathura–Vrindavan Redevelopment.

• Eco & Water-Based Tourism Initiatives: To promote nature-friendly, adventure, and water-based tourism, the state is developing facilities near major reservoirs and natural sites:

• • Infrastructure development at seven key dams and lakes—Gunta (Chitrakoot), Arjun (Mahoba), Dhandhraul (Sonbhadra), Maudaha (Hamirpur), Garhmau (Jhansi), Majhauli Sagar (Siddharthnagar), and Nawab Tank (Banda).
• Digital & Brand Promotion: To enhance visibility and improve tourist engagement, Uttar Pradesh has adopted modern digital tools and branding strategies:

• • For example, UP Nahin Dekha Toh India Nahi Dekha, International Roadshows promoting Buddhist, spiritual, and heritage tourism in Japan, Thailand, Sri Lanka, South Korea, and ASEAN countries.

Key Challenges related to Tourism in UP

• Infrastructure Gaps: Many rural and lesser-known sites lack quality hotels, sanitation, drinking water, and way-side amenities. Inadequate parking and crowd management during peak pilgrim seasons.

• Environmental Stress: Pollution of rivers (Ganga, Yamuna) and overuse of natural resources. Unregulated wildlife tourism risks disturbing fragile ecosystems.

• Heritage Conservation Issues: Smaller forts, temples, and archaeological sites face neglect due to funding and management constraints. Encroachment and urban pressure damage old city heritage in Agra, Varanasi, Mathura.

• Human Resource Constraints: Shortage of trained guides, multilingual staff, and hospitality professionals. Limited awareness among local communities about sustainable tourism practices.

• Safety & Overcrowding: Pilgrimage cities face congestion, stampede risks, and inadequate tourist-police presence. Need for better disaster management at river ghats and water-based sites.

Way Forward

• Sustainable & Balanced Tourism: Promote lesser-known FTDs to reduce pressure on Varanasi, Agra, and Mathura. Encourage green tourism i.e., zero-plastic zones, eco-friendly riverfronts, waste management.

• Technology-Driven Governance: Expand use of AI-based crowd monitoring, drone surveillance, and smart ticketing. Develop a unified Tourism Mobile App with emergency helplines and multilingual support.

• Heritage Conservation & Urban Renewal: Strengthen partnerships with ASI, UNESCO, and private firms for conserving unprotected monuments. Promote heritage hotels through adaptive reuse of forts, havelis, kacchaharis.

• Skill Development: Train local youth as tourist guides, eco-guides, water-sport instructors, and hospitality workers. Promote women’s participation in local tourism enterprises.

• Strengthening PPP & Global Partnerships: Incentivize private players to develop resorts, convention centres, river cruise terminals, and wellness tourism hubs.

• Community Participation: Empower village communities in rural and eco-circuit management. Promote homestays, craft villages, and farm tourism under FTDs.

Conclusion

Tourism in Uttar Pradesh is emerging as a multidimensional growth driver, blending heritage, spirituality, culture, nature, and water-based adventure. With enhanced connectivity, major spiritual corridors, expanded tourism circuits, and forward-looking policies, UP is on the path to becoming India’s leading tourism powerhouse. Sustainable practices, community participation, and technology-driven governance will be central to achieving the goal of 80 crore visitors by 2028 and transforming tourism into an engine of inclusive, long-term development.