Taking cue from Gujarat’s success in promoting tourism in Rann of Kutch and other destinations, Uttar Pradesh to emphasis on strategic campaign in order to tap huge potential in tourism sector in near future, said UP’s Tourism Minister Rita Bahuguna Joshi on Friday.
The brilliance of Gujarat Tourism model is apparent by the fact that the entire country has caught up with the tagline ‘Kuch Din to Gujare Gujarat Me’, remarked the UP Tourism Minister, adding that the great economic potential of the tourism sector is now being utilized by both Central and State Governments.
Joshi, who was in Ahmedabad to participate Travel and Tourism Fair (TTF) indicated to develop lord Krishna’s tourism circuit right from his birthplace Mathura in UP to Dwarka in Gujarat.
‘‘Uttar Pradesh is the birthplace of three deities – lord Ram, lord Krishna and lord Buddha. We have Mathura, Vrindavan, Agra, Chitrakut, Jhansi and many other exotic tourist destinations. Somehow previous state government couldn’t able to promote tourism in the nation’s biggest State,’’ claimed the Minister, adding that the Yogi Adityanath Government is planning to project lucknow as heritage city in lines with Ahmedabad.
She also said that the UP Government would also develop a tourism circuit focusing on Bundelkhand and its rich history. Bundelkhand is relatively backward region, she said, adding that once tourism sector would be develop in the region, employment opportunities too will increase.
Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for tourism sector and employment generation through it, the UP Minister said that due to PM Modi’s connection with ancient city Varanasi Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat have become sister States.
Gujarat is Modiji’s home state and by choosing his parliamentary constituency he has adopted Uttar Pradesh too, said Joshi, adding, ‘‘In 2019 Ardh Kumbh mela will be held in the state. In a span of 30 days around 15 crore people from across the globe visit Allahabad in January 2019. We have a big challenge to create adequate spiritual tourism infrastructure.’’