Plan to revive tourism via religious tours

LUCKNOW: As Uttar Pradesh enters the first phase of unlocking, the state government is planning revival of tourism industry by promoting inter-district and inter-state religious tours and offering packages to people interested in visiting places of religious importance including Ayodhya, Mathura, Vrindavan, Varanasi, Vindhyachal and others.

The lockdown to check spread of Covid-19 pandemic hit the tourism industry across the country, including UP, the most.

“Special packages are being conceptualised for devotees who want to visit religious places,” said Neelkanth Tiwari, UP minister for tourism, culture and religious affairs (independent charge).

Explaining the concept of inter-district tourism, Tiwari said: “If someone from Varanasi wants to visit Ayodhya, Naimisharanya (Sitapur) and other religious places, special bus services will be made available to them.”

“First we will focus on attracting religious tourists within the state. Inter-state tourism will be our next focus,” the minister said.

From forthcoming Navratri in October and Dussehra festivals, religious tourism is expected to gather momentum in the state.

Meanwhile, the tourism, culture and religious affairs ministry is also planning to improve transport services in places of

religious significance across the state.

“Realising that tourism for leisure will take a year or two to revive, the government is planning to attract devotees to places of religious significance by augmenting existing facilities,” said an official of the tourism ministry, state government.

“After the Covid-19 pandemic subsides, we are expecting rise in religious tourism in the state,” said Garish Oberoi, general secretary, Uttar Pradesh Hotel and Restaurant Association (UPHRA). Moreover in a bid to develop Ayodhya as a major religious tourism spot in the country, the state government is also planning to come up with ‘Ayodhya Tirtha Development Board’ to regulate all development activities there.

To connect Ayodhya with rest of the country, the Centre has already approved Rs 100- crore modernisation plan of Ayodhya railway station.