2026

In a major step to boost tourism and improve religious places across Uttar Pradesh, the state government led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has approved a large budget. A total of Rs 118.28 crore has been allocated for the development of important monuments, temples, and tourist places. A big focus has been placed on Agra, a famous city with a rich cultural and historical background. Atal Smarak in Bateshwar to Honour Vajpayee Out of the total budget, Rs 22.76 crore has been set aside to build the Atal Smarak in Bateshwar. This special memorial will be built in memory of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who was also a Bharat Ratna awardee. The memorial will include a statue of Vajpayee and celebrate his legacy. This project will be developed by the UP Tourism Department, and the UP Project Corporation will carry out the work. Better Facilities at Tourist and Religious Spots A large amount of Rs 71.50 crore will be used to improve the facilities at many tourist and religious places across the state. The aim is to make these sites more comfortable and easier to visit. New signage boards will be installed at important places, with Rs 2.05 crore allotted for this purpose. Holipura village in Bah will also get Rs 12.48 lakh for signage improvements. Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh said that Agra is already a top destination for foreign tourists because of its three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. He explained, “Development work is being done at tourist and religious places for the convenience of tourists.” The project is funded through the Tourism Development and Infrastructure Fund. Temples in Agra to Get Upgrades Many well-known temples in Agra are also included in this development plan. Dhakam Mata Temple in Khedi will get Rs 88.30 lakh for upgrades. Kailash Temple in Sikandra will receive Rs 15.26 crore for improvement works. Other temples like Dariyanath Temple in Rajamandi, Balkeshwar Mahadev Temple, Dashrath Kunj Temple in Shaheed Park, Shiv Mandir in Fatehabad, and Hanuman Mandir in the Collectorate area will also be improved using this budget. Minister Jaiveer Singh made it clear that strict action will be taken if poor-quality work is done. He said, “Negligence in the quality and standards of work will be unforgivable.” With this big investment, the government hopes to protect the heritage of these important places while making them more attractive to both Indian and foreign visitors. The plan not only supports religious tourism but also improves the experience for travelers looking to explore the history and culture of Uttar Pradesh.

In a momentous tribute to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that the state government will build a grand memorial in Agra, where the legendary warrior was kept prisoner, ANI reported. Addressing a gathering in Agra on the 395th birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Fadnavis expressed his commitment to securing land in Meena Bazaar, formerly known as Agra Kothi, to set up the memorial. “A grand monument will be erected in Agra Kothi (which is known as Meena Bazaar today), where Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was kept prisoner. The Maharashtra government will acquire the land. There will be a magnificent monument of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. I will speak to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath myself…,” Fadnavis was quoted as saying by ANI. Earlier, CM Fadnavis, alongside Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, attended the grand birth anniversary celebrations at Shivneri Fort in Junnar, Maharashtra, the birthplace of the Maratha icon. He pledged to restore all forts associated with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and to remove any encroachments there. “We will develop all his forts. We are constituting a task force to remove the encroachment from all the forts,” Fadnavis announced. Born on 19 February 1630 at Shivneri Fort, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is considered one of India’s most revered warrior kings.

The grand mausoleum of white marble was built between 1631 and 1648 by the order of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Taj Mahal leads in visitor numbers for both domestic and foreign tourists Mughal-era mausoleum Taj Mahal in Agra was the most-visited centrally protected ticketed monument for both domestic and foreign tourists in the financial year 2024-25, according to data published in a compendium released by the government on Saturday. The compendium was released by the Ministry of Tourism at an event held here to mark World Tourism Day on September 27. The Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) figures for India reached 9.95 million in 2024, reflecting a 4.52 per cent rise from 2023, it says. Among the centrally protected ticketed monuments, “Taj Mahal leads in visitor numbers for both domestic (6.26 million) and foreign (0.645 million) tourists in FY 2024-25”. The grand mausoleum of white marble was built between 1631 and 1648 by the order of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. It comes under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Other popular sites for domestic visitors include the Sun Temple, Konark in Odisha (3.57 million) and Qutub Minar in Delhi (3.20 million). Foreign visitors favoured Agra Fort (0.22 million) and Qutub Minar (0.22 million) following Taj Mahal, it said. And, arrivals of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in India reached 10.62 million in 2024, reflecting a 13.22 per cent increase over 2023 and a substantial 52.15 per cent rise compared to the pre-pandemic level of 2019. “This strong rebound highlights the growing confidence of the Indian diaspora in travelling to India post-pandemic,” the compendium says. International Tourist Arrivals (ITAs) in India thus reached 20.57 million, reflecting an increase of 8.89 per cent over the previous year and 14.82 per cent compared to 2019, according to the 260-page India Tourism Data Compendium 2025. At the event, Suman Bery, vice chairperson of the NITI Aayog, was the chief guest. Union Minister of State for Tourism Suresh Gopi presided over the event, while Suman Billa, additional secretary in the ministry, and other officials also attended it. Bery, in his address, said, “Tourism is not just about leisure; it is a powerful instrument for economic transformation, environmental stewardship, and social inclusion”. Globally, it has been shown by various countries that sustainable tourism can preserve biodiversity while generating livelihoods. India has the same potential, but “we must embed sustainability at the core of our strategy, not at the margins,” he said. “As we look ahead to Viksit Bharat 2047, our vision must be of a tourism sector that is green, inclusive, and future-ready where communities are not just participants but beneficiaries, and where India’s cultural and natural wealth is showcased to the world with pride,” Bery said. The tourism sector was hit globally during the COVID-19 period, and according to the latest compendium, the year 2020 marked a significant downturn due to the pandemic, with FTAs declining by 74.93 per cent to 2.74 million. A gradual recovery was observed in subsequent years, with FTAs rebounding sharply to 6.44 million in 2022 (a 323.68 per cent increase) and reaching 9.95 million in 2024, reflecting a 4.52 per cent rise from 2023, it said. Also, age-wise FTAs in 2024 indicate broad appeal across age groups, with the highest shares from the 35-44 years (20.67 per cent) and 45-54 (20.24 per cent) segments. Significant contributions from the 55-64 and above 65 age groups suggest a growing interest among senior travellers, likely drawn by India’s wellness, heritage, and spiritual tourism offerings, it added. “While the 0-14 age group saw a slight decline compared to 2022 and 2023, it remains significant, highlighting strong family tourism,” the compendium says. The gender-wise FTAs in 2024 show that “57.7 per cent males and 42.3 per cent females, reflecting a balanced gender distribution among foreign visitors,” it added. The compendium further said that in 2024, outbound travel from India continued its upward trajectory, recording 30.89 million departures, a growth of 10.79 per cent over the previous year. This sustained recovery underscores the resilience of India’s outbound travel market, supported by rising consumer confidence, expanding aviation networks, and growing demand for international leisure and business travel, it said. In 2024, the United Arab Emirates remained the leading destination for Indian nationals, followed by Saudi Arabia, the US, Thailand, Singapore, the UK, Qatar, Canada, Kuwait, and Oman. Together, these top 10 countries accounted for approximately 71.16 per cent of all Indian Nationals’ Departures (INDs) during the year. Air travel continues to be the predominant mode of international travel for Indian residents, with 98 per cent of Indian nationals departing by air in 2024. In comparison, 1.46 per cent travelled via land routes, and 0.54 per cent used waterways, the compendium said. In 2023-24, the travel and tourism sector in India generated approximately 84.63 million jobs (including both direct and indirect employment). During the same period, the sector’s total contribution to India’s GDP stood at 5.22 per cent, reflecting its significant role in the national economy, it said.