Ayodhya Leads UP's Tourism Surge: 11 Crore Visitors in 2024

Ayodhya's Meteoric Rise as a Tourist Destination

• Ayodhya emerges as the top tourist attraction in Uttar Pradesh in 2024
• 11crore visitors in the first six months, including 2,851 international tourists
• Surpasses traditional favorites like Varanasi, which received 4.61 crore visitors
• Ram temple credited as the primary driver for the surge in tourism
• Ayodhya's visitors account for roughly one-third of total UP tourism

Overall Tourism Growth in Uttar Pradesh

• Total of 32.98 crore tourists visited UP in the first half of 2024
• Significant increase from 31.86 crore visitors in the entire year of 2022
• Domestic tourists: 32.87 crore; International visitors: 10.36 lakh
• 13 crore more visitors compared to the first half of the previous year

Other popular destinations:

• • Varanasi: 4.61 crore (including 1,33,999 international visitors)
  • Prayagraj: 4.53 crore
  • Mathura: 3.07 crore
  • Agra: 69.84 lakh
  • Lucknow: 35.06 lakh

Future Development and Impact

• Shringverpur, part of the Ramayana Circuit, slated for development
• Plans include parking facilities, civic amenities, and eateries
• Development aimed at preparing for the 2025 Maha Kumbh
• UP Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh highlights the state's rising global tourism appeal
• Increased tourism expected to boost the state's economy and infrastructure development