Monday, September 16, 2024 The first six months of 2024 witnessed a historic surge in tourism for Uttar Pradesh, with a record-breaking 11 crore tourists visiting Ayodhya alone, as per figures released by the UP Tourism Department . This remarkable influx includes 2,851 foreign visitors. Varanasi followed with 4.
61 crore tourists, including 1,33,999 international travelers, while Prayagraj , Mathura , and Agra continued to be major attractions, drawing millions of visitors each. In total, Uttar Pradesh welcomed 33 crore tourists in the first half of the year, solidifying its place as a major global tourism destination. The state’s Tourism and Culture Minister, Jaiveer Singh , shared these numbers, emphasizing Uttar Pradesh’s growing prominence on the world tourism stage.
The minister attributed Ayodhya’s overwhelming success to the Pran Pratishtha ceremony and the installation of the idol of Ram Lalla at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in January 2024, which has significantly boosted both domestic and international tourism. In the first half of 2024, Ayodhya saw 10.99 crore tourists, with Varanasi hosting 4.
61 crore . Other major attractions included Prayagraj , which welcomed 4.53 crore tourists, and Mathura , which saw over 3 crore visitors.
Agra recorded 69 lakh domestic visitors and 7 lakh international tourists, reflecting the ongoing global appeal of these heritage-rich cities. The state as a whole experienced a substantial increase in tourism, with 33 crore visitors recorded from January to June 2024, a significant leap from the 31 crore visitors for the entirety of 2022. This includes 32.
87 crore domestic tourists and over 10 lakh international travelers. This surge underscores the state’s rapidly expanding tourism footprint. Commenting on these figures, Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh said, “Uttar Pradesh is establishing itself as a global tourism hub.
With ongoing development of tourist infrastructure and improved facilities, we are seeing unprecedented growth in tourist numbers, both from India and abroad.” The rapid increase in tourist footfall across major destinations such as Ayodhya , Varanasi , and Agra points to Uttar Pradesh’s successful efforts to promote its cultural and religious heritage. The tourism department is also working to enhance the visitor experience, ensuring that the state continues to attract tourists throughout the year.
Besides Ayodhya and Varanasi, Prayagraj recorded 4.53 crore visitors, including 3,668 foreign tourists , while Mathura saw 3 crore domestic visitors and 49,619 foreign travelers. Lucknow , the state capital, also experienced a steady stream of tourists, with 35 lakh domestic visitors and 7,108 foreign tourists, showcasing the wide appeal of the state’s diverse cultural and historical offerings.
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