Expect a tourism boom in Ayodhya, once the Rama temple is ready : CM Yogi
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh is a state with infinite possibilities in terms of tourism. All major centers of religious, spiritual, eco-tourism are present here. Today Uttar Pradesh is number one in terms of domestic tourism. In 2024, when the Shri Ram temple will be ready in Ayodhya, tourism will increase 10 times there. Today there is nothing to worry about the safety of tourists in the state. All this has become a thing of the past. UP is the safest state today. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said these things in his address to tour operators from across the country at the 37th Annual Convention of the Indian Association of Tour Operators.
The Chief Minister said that after almost two and a half decades, the program was organized by IATO in UP. When this program would have taken place 26 years ago, all of you must be feeling a lot of difference between the UP of that time and the UP of today. There are immense possibilities of all types of tourism in UP. The efforts made by all of us in the last five years under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the result that Uttar Pradesh is number one in domestic tourism today.
One crore tourists came to Varanasi in the month of Sawan
The Chief Minister said that there are infinite possibilities in the field of religious-spiritual tourism in UP. We have Kashi as the oldest city in the world and the cultural and spiritual capital of India. Recently, one year has been completed since the inauguration of Shrikashi Vishwanath Dham. Earlier, usually one crore tourists used to come to Varanasi in a year, but after the formation of Srikashi Vishwanath Dham, this year one crore tourists came to Varanasi in the month of Sawan alone.
30-30 thousand crore rupees are being spent for the development of Ayodhya-Mathura
The Chief Minister said that apart from this, Ayodhya is the center of faith of every Sanatani. Everyone aspires to come here once in their lifetime. Here the work of the grand temple is going on on a war footing. Along with Deepotsav, many works have been done for tourism development in Ayodhya. Here the works of infrastructure development worth 30 thousand crores are going on. When the construction and development works of Shri Ram temple in Ayodhya will be completed in 2024, after that tourism will increase 10 times. Similarly, we also have Mathura, Vrindavan, Gokul, Barsana. Whether indigenous or foreign, all have a connection with Mathura. Along with the spiritual development there, you all must have felt the physical development as well. Infrastructure development works are going on for the development of Mathura-Vrindavan by the central and state governments at a cost of Rs 25 to 30 thousand crores.
Tourism circuit is being developed
Keeping the example of Prayagraj, the Chief Minister said that 24 crore devotees came in the 2019 Kumbh. But such a large number of people got involved in any event and there was no push-and-pull situation of any kind. Apart from this, efforts are on to put Ramayana, Krishna and Buddhist circuits on a practical level. The Chief Minister said that important Buddhist sites like Sarnath, Kushinagar, Kapilvastu, Shravasti, Kaushambi are present in UP. International Airport, Shravasti Airport is being developed in Kushinagar. Naimisharanya, the land of scripting Vedic Shrutis, is also here. Chitrakoot, associated with Lord Rama’s exile, is also in UP. Shukra Tirtha, the abode of Maa Vindhyavasini is also here. Also, there is immense potential for eco and heritage tourism in Terai, Vindhya and Bundelkhand.
Earlier people were afraid of the name of Azamgarh, today development work is being done there
He said that UP has the best road, railway and air connectivity in the country. We have new international airports being built in the form of Jewar and Ayodhya. Azamgarh, the name of which people were once afraid of, today we are going to provide airport facility there by connecting it with the expressway. Apart from this, airports are going to be built at 10 new places including Aligarh, Moradabad. For five of these, we have signed an MoU with the airport authority. Waterways, which have been connected from Varanasi to Haldia, are being tried to take it up to Ayodhya.
Had to visit the offices first for investment
While assuring the tour operators from all over the country, the Chief Minister said that the safety of tourists and better connectivity is guaranteed in UP. We are engaged in making it even more prosperous through excellent infrastructure works. We are continuously working for hotel parking for tourists at every place. Today we have the best tourism policy, under which investment can be made in different areas. UP is giving full guarantee of security to the investor partner. The entire investment process is proceeding without any human intervention. All work is being carried forward through the Nivesh Mitra portal. More than 300 and a half formalities, for which one had to run from one office to another, are being done in auto mode today. Its monitoring is done from the Chief Minister’s Office itself. We can provide employment opportunities to lakhs of people along with investing in UP’s tourism sector. We can contribute in increasing the GDP of not only the state but also the country by inviting domestic and foreign tourists to UP. The state government will fully support you in whatever meaningful effort you make.
