Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh’s tourism sector has shifted from a “graveyard economy” to a “temple economy” driven by faith, heritage and festival-led development, said minister Jaiveer Singh on Wednesday.“The change was not merely symbolic but reflected a broader economic restructuring in which tourism emerged as a major growth engine. State govt now treats tourism as a core sector linked to employment, investment, local enterprise and international visibility,” he said, speaking at a press conference to mark nine years of the BJP-led UP govt. He said UP received over 156 crore tourists in 2025, including over 36 lakh foreign visitors. “Ayodhya, Varanasi and Prayagraj together drew nearly 116 crore visitors, highlighting the scale of religious tourism in the state’s overall growth story,” he said. Singh cited the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor as a major example, saying it led to a four-to five-fold rise in tourist arrivals. He also pointed to Ayodhya’s Deepotsav celebrations, where more than 26 lakh diyas were lit in 2025, setting a global record. On the investment front, the minister said the Tourism Policy 2022 attracted proposals worth Rs 36,681.32 crore. “These projects have the potential to generate nearly 5 lakh jobs. So far, 1,757 tourism units have been registered under the policy, indicating rising private sector participation,” he said. Singh added that 234 villages have been selected under rural tourism initiatives while the state has set a target of developing 50,000 homestay rooms by 2026-27. Eco-tourism projects are also being developed across 16 forest and wildlife areas. He said connectivity and visitor access are being improved through transport upgrades and heli-tourism services. To improve tourist services, 850 guides have been selected at the state level. Singh also stressed the economic role of cultural events, saying festivals like Braj Rangotsav are supporting local economies by increasing demand for handicraft, hospitality and small businesses. He added that Lucknow’s designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in 2025 further enhanced Uttar Pradesh’s global tourism appeal.
