Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday issued directions to prepare a comprehensive, time-bound action plan to position eco-tourism as a major driver of employment generation, environmental conservation and economic growth in Uttar Pradesh.Chairing a meeting of the Uttar Pradesh Eco-Tourism Development Board, the chief minister underlined that the state’s forests, wetlands, wildlife habitats and rich biodiversity offer immense potential that must be developed in a planned and sustainable manner.
Emphasising the role of the private sector, the chief minister said active private participation should be ensured to create high-quality eco-tourism infrastructure and visitor facilities, enabling eco-tourism to evolve into a strong and sustainable industry. He said selected eco-tourism destinations should be developed with quality accommodation, good hotels, standard restaurants and modern infrastructure to attract both domestic and international tourists. The CM identified locations such as Kusumhi Forest in Gorakhpur, the Kumarganj area in Ayodhya, Kamakhya Van Park in Ghazipur and the Maheshpur Range in Lakhimpur Kheri as high-potential sites to be developed through the PPP model, with a clear focus on creating local employment opportunities. He said Uttar Pradesh’s biodiversity, wetlands, lakes, wildlife and river systems are not just tourism assets but the foundation of the state’s future, and that eco-tourism would become a key pillar linking conservation with livelihoods and global recognition. He further directed that eco-tourism models must be safe, clean and sustainable in every district, with local community participation treated as a priority. Eco-tourism, he said, should integrate nature conservation, rural development, private investment and employment generation into a single, cohesive framework. The Board was informed that between 2022–23 and 2024–25, a total of 44 eco-tourism infrastructure projects were initiated across major sites, including the Dudhwa, Pilibhit, Ranipur and Katarniaghat tiger reserves, as well as wetlands such as Haiderpur, Bakhira, Sur Sarovar, Samaspur and Nawabganj. The focus is now on asset monetisation and long-term sustainability, with eco-lodges, floating restaurants and visitor amenities being developed through PPP initiatives. Connectivity was highlighted as a critical enabler. The chief minister directed the launch of weekend AC bus services between Lucknow and Palia and New Delhi and Palia, and instructed that regional bus services be started on the Pilibhit–Mailani–Bahraich route, with the successful transport model extended to other eco-tourism destinations. For 2025–26, 31 new projects have been proposed across districts including Ayodhya, Agra, Gorakhpur, Lucknow, Chitrakoot, Maharajganj, Prayagraj, Banda, Bahraich, Sitapur, Unnao, Ballia, Etawah and Mainpuri. These include parks, interpretation centres, wetland development, bird-watching towers, trails, camping facilities and tourist amenities. An AI-based chatbot and mobile application are also being developed to improve visitor information and engagement. Tourism and Culture minister Jaiveer Singh briefed the CM on ongoing initiatives, highlighting that Uttar Pradesh Tourism is steadily aligning eco-tourism development with community participation, improved connectivity and investment-led growth to ensure that conservation and livelihoods move forward together. The meeting was attended by finance minister Suresh Khanna, agriculture minister Surya Pratap Shahi, jal shakti minister Swatantra Dev Singh, forest and environment minister Arun Saxena, along with senior officials.
