Tourism in UP: Issues and prospects

Introduction

Tourism in UP, India, has significant potential due to its rich cultural heritage, historical landmarks, and diverse natural landscapes. Despite these strengths, the industry encounter challenges that impede its growth and prevent it from reaching its full potential.

Issues

1. Infrastructure Deficiencies:Uttar Pradesh (UP) suffer from insufficient infrastructure, particularly in remote areas, with inadequacies in roads, transportation networks, and accommodation facilities, posing obstacles to a flourishing tourism industry.
2. Safety and Security Concerns:Concerns about safety and security deter both domestic and international tourists from visiting UP. The state’s image has been marred by incidents of crime, harassment, and scams.
3. Poor Marketing and Promotion:The tourism potential of UP remains underutilised because of ineffective marketing and promotional campaigns. The state’s distinctive attractions and destinations lack widespread publicity, resulting in reduced tourist numbers.
4. Lack of Skilled Manpower:The UP tourism industry faces a shortage of trained professionals, including tour guides, hospitality staff, and language experts. This deficiency affects the overall quality of tourist experiences.
5. Neglect of Eco-Tourism:The natural beauty and diverse ecosystems in UP present substantial opportunities for eco-tourism. Unfortunately, these aspects are frequently ignored, and there is a lack of emphasis on sustainable tourism practices.

Prospects

Despite the challenges, UP possesses vast potential for tourism growth. Several facto₹contribute to this promising prospect:

1. Rich Cultural Heritage:UP houses a wide range of historical monuments, religious sites, and cultural attractions, among them the Taj Mahal, recognised as one of the seven wonder of the world.
2. Diverse Natural Landscapes:The state’s terrain includes hills, rivers, forests, and plains, providing diverse natural attractions for adventure seeker and nature enthusiasts.
3. Religious Significance:UP carries immense religious significance for Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, and Jains, drawing pilgrims from across the globe.
4. Emergence of Medical Tourism:The medical facilities and expertise in UP are gaining recognition, providing opportunities for affordable and high-quality medical tourism.
5. Government Initiatives:The UP government is actively addressing the industry’s challenges and promoting tourism through initiatives such as infrastructure development, safety measures, and marketing campaigns.

Recommendations for Improvement

1. Infrastructure Upgrade:Give priority to developing infrastructure, focusing on roads, transportation networks, and accommodation facilities, particularly in remote areas.
2. Safety and Security Enhancement:Enforce strict safety measures, enhance police presence in tourist areas, and conduct awareness campaigns to combat crime and harassment.
3. Effective Marketing Strategies:Create tailored marketing campaigns to showcase UP’s distinct attractions and destinations, targeting potential tourists both domestically and internationally.
4. Skill Development Programs:Allocate resources to skill development programs aimed at training tour guides, hospitality staff, and language experts, ensuring a highly trained workforce for the tourism industry.
5. Eco-Tourism Promotion:Encourage eco-tourism initiatives, incorporating sustainable practices, nature trails, and conservation efforts to appeal to environmentally conscious tourists.

By tackling these challenges and leveraging its strengths, UP has the potential to turn its tourism industry into a significant catalyst for economic growth, employment opportunities, and cultural exchange.

Additional Information

Institutional setup:

The Tourism Department, established in 1956, and the Tourism Directorate, established in 1972, are actively involved in this work. The Tourism Development Corporation was also established in 1974 to oversee tourism-related business activities. The Honourable Kanshi Ram Institute of Tourism Management in Chinhat (Lucknow) has been established to provide tourism-related education and training to individuals interested in employment in tourism. Additionally, there is a Food Craft Institute in Aligarh.

Tourism Policies:

For the development of tourism in the state, seven circuits were selected in the state’s ‘First Tourism Policy’, promulgated in the year 1998. They are as follows:

1. Braj Circuit: Includes Mathura, Vrindavan, Agra, and areas related to the pastimes of Shri Krishna.
2. Bundelkhand Circuit: Cove₹Jhansi, Lalitpur, Deogarh, Kalinjar, Chitrakoot, and surrounding areas.
3. Buddhist Circuits: Encompasses holy sites associated with Lord Buddha.
4. Vindhya Circuit: Includes areas connected to Vindhyachal and Sonbhadra.
5. Awadh Circuit: Involves Lucknow and Prayagraj and the area between them.
6. Forest, Eco, and Adventure Tourism Circuit: Focuses on forest sanctuaries located in the state, van vihar, and eco-tourist places.
7. Water Tourism Circuit: Encompasses areas where there are possibilities of water sports.

Tourism Circuits:

The Buddhist Circuit The Agra-Braj Circuit The Bundelkhand Circuit Awadh-Lucknow Circuit The Vindhya-Varanasi Circuit Wildlife-Ecotourism Circuit The Ramayan Circuit

The Rural Tourism Policy, announced in June 2015, includes a provision to identify and develop villages close to the main tourist destinations and circuits, where tourism possibilities exist. The government sanctions a maximum of ₹2 crore (one crore per year) for each selected village, with a maximum of three villages chosen in a year.

According to the rural tourism policy, there is a provision of giving a maximum of ₹5 lakh for developing houses and mansions built before 1950 as residential arrangements for tourists.

Under the new tourism policy promulgated in 2016, seven new circuits have been selected for the development of tourism areas, which are as follows:

1. Heritage Arc (Agra-Lucknow-Varanasi) region.
2. Mahabharata Circuit (sites associated with the Mahabharata period).
3. Ramayana Circuit (sites mentioned in the Ramayana);
4. Jain Circuit (sites associated with Jainism).
5. Sufi Circuits (major sites associated with Sufism).
6. Freedom Struggle Circuit (sites associated with the freedom struggle).
7. Craft, Cuisine, and Culture Circuit (handicrafts, cuisine, and exclusive cultural centres).

The ‘Eco Tourism Policy’ was promulgated in the state in 2014, under which the Forest Department has developed Dudhwa National Park (Kheri), National Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary (Agra-Etawah), Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary (Balrampur), Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary (Bahraich), Lakh Bahoshi Bird Sanctuary (Kannauj), Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary (Unnao), and is working on the development of Sarsainawar (Etawah) and Sitadwar (Shravasti) for eco-tourism.

Uttar Pradesh Tourism Policy 2022

The UP Tourism Policy-2022 was approved in the state cabinet meeting on November 16, 2022. This policy includes arrangements to provide incentives to those investing in 22 tourism-related activities by the state government. The policy aims to invest ₹20 thousand crore in the tourism sector and generate employment for 10 lakh people.

Heritage Arc, Schemes, Circuits etc.

Most of the foreign tourists in the state come to the cities of Agra, Lucknow and Varanasi. For this reason, it has been decided to develop these cities as ‘Heritage Arc’. The area of ​​12 to 15 districts has been included in this. Under Heritage Arch, all levels of infrastructure including roads are being developed in these three cities.

The UP Heritage Tourism Policy aims to convert old buildings into heritage hotels.

Tourism was granted industry status in 1998.

In 2000-01, Tourism Police were established and deployed in Agra, Varanasi, and Lucknow. Later, tourism police were also stationed in Jhansi, Prayagraj, and Mathura. The Centre deployed TFSOs in Kushinagar and Shravasti.

Additionally, the ‘Single Table System’ has been implemented to encourage more capital investment in the tourism sector.

Under the ‘Discover Your Roots Scheme’ operated by the State Tourism Department, Indian ancesto₹of foreigne₹of Indian origin are discovered.

Since May 2008, the ‘Incredible India Bed and Breakfast Scheme’, initiated by the Centre with the goal of offering comfortable and affordable accommodation in the form of ‘home stays’ to tourists in metropolitan cities and tourist destinations of the state, has been managed by the State Tourism Department.

The Paying Guest Scheme, which permits private landlords to rent out a maximum of 5 rooms in their houses to tourists, has been operating in the state since 1994.

At present the state tourism department (Uttar Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation Limited) has 40 tourist bungalows/hotels and 7 up-tour divisions and 3 other units.

With the assistance of Japan, the first phase of the ‘Buddhist Circuit Scheme’ involved development work in tourist places located within the districts of the Buddhist Circuit (Sarnath, Deoria, Mau, Kushinagar, Shravasti, Siddharthnagar, Kaushambi, etc.). The second phase of the ‘Buddhist Circuit Scheme’ is currently underway, focusing on the integrated development of tourist places and roads within this circuit.

The ‘Maitreya Project’ was launched in December 2013 as part of the Buddhist circuit. Under this project, a grand (500 feet) tall statue of Buddha will be built in Kushinagar. The project includes the construction of a spacious and modern institution for primary and higher education, a free medical facility unit, a meditation/chintan pavilion, fountains, reservoirs, parks, and a guest house.

An airport is also planned to be constructed in Kushinagar on a PPP (Public-Private Partnership) basis.

The World Bank is funding the ‘Pro Poor Tourism Scheme’ that is being implemented in the state.

The state has three monuments included in UNESCO’s Tangible World Heritage list: Taj Mahal (1983), Agra Fort (1983), and Fatehpur Sikri (1986). Additionally, the state has three heritage sites included in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list: Ramleela (2008), Kashi as City of Music (2016), and Kumbh Mela (2017).

For the convenience of visitors, a ‘rope-way’ is being operated with the help of the private sector at Ashtabhuji and Kali Khoh in Vindhyachal, and at Hanumandhara in Chitrakoot. Additionally, a ropeway is proposed at Barsana in Mathura.

The first important tourist destination in the state (and also in India) for foreign tourists is the Taj Mahal, and the second is Agra Fort.

Mukhyamantri Paryatan Samvardhan Yojana :

• Uttar Pradesh Government has approved the proposal to implement the procedure of this scheme on 21st January, 2020.
• Under this scheme, in order to sustain development
• and promotion of religious, spiritual, ancient
• cultural and natural sites situated in the state, one tourist site will be developed in each Vidhan Sabha Constituency of the state.
• Tourist sites will be chosen on the basis of recommendation of the related MLA and District Magistrate.
• Fund will be availed from Tourism Department, MLA Fund and C.S.R. Fund for the development of selected tourist sites.
• This scheme will be taken care of by local body/ Gram Panchayat or management committee organised for it.
• Planned work will be carried out with the assistance of related department as per requirement.

The Ganga Vilas Cruise

• On January 13, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually flagged off the Ganga Vilas Cruise, the world’s largest river cruise, from Varanasi to Dibrugarh (Assam). This cruise will cover a distance of 3200 km in 50 days, passing through Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Bengal, and Bangladesh before reaching Dibrugarh on February 28, 2023. The vessel has a capacity of 36 tourists and 40 cruise members, and there are currently 32 tourists from Switzerland on board. The fare for this journey from Varanasi to Dibrugarh is ₹12 lakh per person.

The Naimisharanya Teerth Development Council

• For the comprehensive development of Naimisharanya Teerth, located in Sitapur district, the formation of the Naimisharanya Teerth Development Council was approved in the state cabinet meeting on November 25, 2022.

Night safari will be made in Lucknow

• In the state cabinet meeting held on August 16, 2022, it was decided to develop a Night Safari Park covering 350 acres and a Zoological Park spanning 150 acres in the Kukrail Forest area of Lucknow. Animals such as tigers, leopards, and bear will be housed in the Night Safari Park.

Eco-Tourism Development Board

• The state government decided to establish an Eco-Tourism Development Board in August 2022 for the development and management of eco-tourism in the state. The Chief Minister will serve as the chairman of this board.

Heliport service in four cities

• During the state cabinet meeting in Lucknow on April 19, 2022, approval was granted to initiate helicopter services for promoting tourism in Lucknow, Agra, Mathura, and Prayagraj, along with the development of heliports in these cities.

New form of Vishwanath Dham

• After worshiping Baba Vishwanath in Kashi on December 13, 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new divine and grand form of the Dham. Achieving this grand form of the Dham took about three year and ₹850 crore.
• Devotee facilities have been developed in an area of 5,227,730 square feet from the Baba Vishwanath Temple to the banks of the Ganga. The main temple complex has also been expanded to 10,417 square feet and has been shaped into a corridor with pink carved stones from Chunar.
• It is noteworthy that the present Vishwanath temple was renovated in 1777 by Queen Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore, and later, Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab donated 23 maunds of gold for gold plating on its peak.

Expansion of Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi pilgrimage site area

• On September 10, 2021, the state government expanded the perimeter of the previously declared pilgrimage site area around the birthplace of Shri Krishna in Mathura to 10 square km. Now, the sale of meat and liquor will be prohibited in an area of 10 square kilometre from the birthplace.
• It is noteworthy that Govardhan, Gokul, Nandgaon, Radhakund, and Baldev were declared as pilgrimage site areas by the state government in 2018, and Vrindavan and Barsana were declared in 2017.

Vindhya Corridor and Ropeway:

• On August 1, 2021, Union Home Minister Amit Shah laid the foundation stone of the Vindhya Corridor Project at Vindhyachal Dham. He also inaugurated two ropeways built on the PPP mode to reach the temples of Kali and Ashtabhuji Devi located on the Vindhya mountain.

Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial and Cultural Centre:

• On June 29, 2021, President Shri Ram Nath Kovind laid the foundation stone for the Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Cultural Center to be built on an area of 1.34 acres in Ashbagh, Lucknow. The construction of this center cost ₹45.04 crore.

Chief Minister Tourism Promotion Scheme

• To identify and develop small religious, cultural, and tourist places located in every assembly constituency of the state, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched the Chief Minister Tourism Promotion Scheme on March 20, 2021. There is a provision in this scheme that the site should be selected based on the recommendation of the MLA.

Amrit Mahotsav of Independence

• To commemorate the 75th anniversary of India’s independence in 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Amrit Mahotsav of Independence by flagging off a padyatra from Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad, on March 12, 2021. In Uttar Pradesh, Amrit Mahotsav is being organized at four major places associated with the freedom struggle, such as Kakori (Lucknow), Martyr Memorial (Meerut), Martyr Memorial (Ballia), and Jhansi Fort. It is noteworthy that the Amrit Mahotsav scheme started on August 15, 2021, and will continue until August 15, 2023.

Chauri-Chaura Centenary Year Festival

• On 4 February 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the centenary festival of Chauri-Chaura public protest through video conference and paid tribute to the 19 martyr who were accused of burning 23 police personnel to death in the police station on 4 February 1922. Was hanged. On this occasion the Prime Minister gave ₹ 5 Dock ticket has also been issued.

The state government has prepared a blueprint for several programs to be conducted from February 4, 2021, to February 4, 2022, to ignite the flame of patriotism in the state.

Swami Vivekananda Historical Tourism Tour Scheme

• In this scheme aimed at providing historical and religious tourism facilities to approximately 1.5 crore labourer enrolled in the Uttar Pradesh Labor Welfare Board, the state government has allocated Rs. 12 thousand. The application form for availing the benefits of this scheme was made available starting from January 24, 2021, on the occasion of the 72nd State Foundation Day.

Foundation stone of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple

• On August 5, 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple to be built in Ayodhya at 12:44 pm, under the guidance of the best teacher in the country. This temple, built in the Nagar style, will be 360 feet long, 235 feet wide, and 161 feet high, consisting of three floors. The temple will feature one main shikhara and five sub-shikharas. About 4 lakh cubic feet of sandstone will be used in the construction of the temple. The construction of the temple is being carried out by L&T Company, with cooperation from IIT Chennai, Institute of Building Research Roorkee, Tata Construction, and other entities.

Tallest Statue

• According to information released by the state government on July 21, 2020, the world’s tallest statue of Lord Ram (251 m) will be installed in Ayodhya. In addition to the statue, many tourism-related facilities will be developed on approximately 83 hectares of land selected for this scheme. The responsibility of building this statue has been entrusted to Noida sculptor Ram Sutar, who previously designed the 183-meter-high statue of Sardar Patel in Gujarat.

Budget allocations

• In the year 2022, 4.10 lakh foreign and 24.87 crore domestic tourists came to the state.
• ₹45 crore for implementation of Tourism Policy-2022.
• ₹40 crore for integrated development of Prayagraj and ₹2500 crore for Kumbh of 2024-25.
• ₹300 crore for Chief Minister Tourism Promotion Scheme.
• ₹66.91 crore for the construction of Rashtra Prerna Sthal in Lucknow and ₹50 crore for the establishment of Night Safari Park.
• ₹50 crore for integrated development of Shakumbhari Devi Temple located in Saharanpur.
• ₹40 crore for the development of Buddhist Circuit.
• ₹40 crore for development of tourism in Bundelkhand.
• ₹10 crore for the development of Shuktirtha.
• ₹2.50 crore for Naimisharanya Teerth Vikas Parishad.
• ₹2.50 crore for the establishment of Uttar Pradesh Eco Tourism Board in Lucknow.

History, Civilization and Culture of UP