UP's tourism sector thrives, fuelling growth and jobs under CM Yogi
Lucknow News: Tourism is fast emerging as a key engine of Uttar Pradesh’s economic growth. With rising footfall...
Lucknow news: Tourism is fast emerging as a key engine of Uttar Pradesh’s economic growth. With rising footfall and revenues, the sector is becoming one of the state’s most dynamic economic contributors. Estimates suggest that by 2028, tourist arrivals in the state are projected to reach 80 crore, with the sector’s economic contribution expected to touch Rs 70,000 crore—boosting allied industries like hospitality and transport, and creating local jobs.
Notably, even excluding the extraordinary influx of 66.30 crore pilgrims during the Prayagraj Mahakumbh, Uttar Pradesh has witnessed a significant rise in tourist arrivals, particularly from domestic travelers. In 2023, the state welcomed 48 crore visitors, with Ayodhya, Varanasi, Mathura, and Prayagraj alone drawing 28.79 crore of them.
So far in 2025, tourist footfall in these four spiritual hubs has surged to 41.56 crore, underscoring UP’s growing stature as a premier destination for religious and cultural tourism. With the inclusion of Mahakumbh visitors and their reverse movement, total tourist numbers in 2025 are expected to reach record-breaking highs. Projections indicate that by 2028, overall tourist arrivals in the state could climb to 80 crore.
Notably, Uttar Pradesh is rapidly emerging as a major tourism hub, with cities like Varanasi, Ayodhya, Mathura, Prayagraj, Naimisharanya, Gorakhpur, and Vindhyachal (Mirzapur) becoming key destinations. The central government has also identified four cities from the state—Varanasi, Ayodhya, Lucknow, and Kanpur—as high-potential cities for development. These cities now enjoy world-class connectivity, thanks to the combined efforts of the the double-engine government.
CM Yogi Adityanath is focused on enhancing connectivity to religious sites. During a recent visit to Varanasi and Chandauli, he announced that Chandauli and Sonbhadra would be connected to the Purvanchal Expressway. With its ancient fossils and scenic beauty, Sonbhadra is already being promoted as the “Switzerland of UP,” and improved connectivity will be a major milestone.
CM Yogi has also announced plans to extend the under-construction Ganga Expressway to Mirzapur, Bhadohi, Varanasi, Chandauli, and Ghazipur. In addition, a new greenfield expressway connecting Kashi to Kolkata—set to pass through Chandauli—is expected to further strengthen regional tourism and connectivity.
Beyond roads and expressways, the government is building infrastructure focused on tourist comfort and safety. Dedicated pilgrimage development councils have been set up to ensure systematic planning and monitoring at major religious sites. Development of spiritual corridors, provincializing major fairs, and creating regional tourism circuits are part of this strategy.
As a result, Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the top destination for domestic tourists and now aspires to position itself as a global tourism hub. As CM Yogi puts it, Ayodhya is being developed into “the world’s most beautiful religious tourism city,” and this vision is steadily becoming a reality with visible progress on the ground.
The economic contribution of tourism is also growing significantly. For instance, the Mahakumbh alone brought over Rs 3 lakh crore into the economy. In 2016–17, the tourism sector contributed around Rs 11,000 crore to UP’s economy. By 2028, this is expected to rise to Rs 70,000 crore. This growth will benefit allied sectors like hospitality and transport while also creating local employment opportunities.
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