Uttar Pradesh retains top slot in domestic tourism footfall for 3rd straight year

Boasting the highest number of operational expressways and three international airports, with the fourth — Asia’s largest international airport at Jewar — set to open soon after a successful trial landing, the state is continually improving the travel experience for visitors. Uttar Pradesh has 15 functional airports, with six more under construction, the spokesperson added.

On the infrastructure front, he said, six expressways are operational and construction is underway on seven more. The expansion of metro services across major cities further enhances the tourist experience, ensuring pleasant, safe and enjoyable journeys. To ensure that every tourist leaves with lasting memories of Uttar Pradesh, the government has introduced initiatives such as training tourist guides and deploying specially trained tourism police in select locations.

Recognising tourism’s growing importance, educational institutions are launching new programs. IGNOU, for example, has introduced a tourism degree focused on Kashi and its surroundings, with similar initiatives expected to follow, boosting the sector’s development.

The state has witnessed exponential growth in tourist numbers over the past five years, with 8.70 crore visitors in 2020, rising to 10.97 crore in 2021, 32.18 crore in 2022, and 48.01 crore in 2023.

By June 2024, the state had recorded 32.98 crore visitors. Over the past seven years, Uttar Pradesh has hosted a total of 198.08 crore domestic and international tourists.

With the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj scheduled for 2025, this figure is projected to rise to an average of 35-40 crore visitors annually, further establishing Uttar Pradesh as a leading tourism hub in the country.