The Yogi Adityanath government is set to elevate Uttar Pradesh's tourism industry through a focused initiative on skill development, with the upcoming Mahakumbh in Prayagraj anticipated to generate direct or indirect employment for over 45,000 families. This monumental event, scheduled for 2025, is expected to attract millions of pilgrims and tourists, creating a significant demand for trained local service providers.

In an effort to prepare for this surge, extensive training programs are underway across Prayagraj. These programs aim to upskill local vendors, boatmen, street vendors, and tour guides, ensuring they are equipped to meet the needs of visitors with professionalism and customer-friendly service. By empowering these service providers, the government is not only supporting existing businesses but also laying the foundation for new employment opportunities around religious tourist destinations, contributing to the region's economic growth.

The Yogi administration's comprehensive tourism strategy took root with the launch of the Tourism Policy-2022, approved on November 16, 2022. This policy envisions a substantial investment inflow of Rs 20,000 crore and aims to generate 10 lakh jobs, cementing Uttar Pradesh's position as a tourism-friendly state. A key pillar of this strategy is to connect local service providers with targeted skill development programs, equipping them with essential skills in service and management. Regional Tourism Officer Aparajita Singh emphasized the campaign's reach, saying that training sessions have been launched for a broad range of tourist-facing roles. From boatmen and tour guides to street vendors, service providers are being trained in hospitality, hygiene, and communication skills to enhance the visitor experience. The government is also promoting responsible tourism by raising awareness among service providers about maintaining a clean and welcoming environment at tourist sites. A notable initiative within this campaign focuses on boatmen who navigate the rivers near religious sites. The Tourism Department is providing training to 2,000 boatmen to broaden their skill set, enabling them to take on dual roles as river guides. This initiative, undertaken in collaboration with Manyavar Kanshiram Tourism Management Institute, has already trained 300 boatmen, giving them the skills to enhance the tourist experience by sharing insights about the area's cultural and spiritual significance. "We are dedicated to preparing a robust, skilled workforce for the Mahakumbh 2025," Singh said. "Our goal is to support livelihoods while enhancing the quality of services provided to our visitors." The training for tour guides is also progressing rapidly. Assistant Professor Prakhar Tiwari from the Manyavar Kanshiram Tourism Management Institute, who is overseeing the program, reported that seven batches of guides have completed the course, resulting in 420 well-trained tour guides ready to assist pilgrims and tourists.

The government's efforts extend to street vendors and taxi drivers as well. Recognizing the important role of street vendors in providing accessible goods to locals and tourists alike, the Tourism Department has launched a training program focused on customer service skills and cleanliness standards. So far, 600 street vendors and 600 taxi drivers in Prayagraj have enrolled, with 250 vendors and 120 drivers already completing their training.

With the Mahakumbh serving as a catalyst, Uttar Pradesh's tourism sector is undergoing a transformative phase, with skill development programs creating a wide range of employment opportunities for local youth. Singh estimates that over 45,000 families will benefit from this initiative, securing income through tourism-related roles and fostering a sustainable environment for the industry's growth around key religious sites.