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The Uttar Pradesh government is planning to launch package tours akin to those in European countries across famous tourist destinations in the state.
Most European countries offer package tours by government-owned bodies.
The Uttar Pradesh tourism and roadways departments have joined hands to roll out the package tours, which are likely to begin from mid-October. The two departments would soon sign a memorandum of understanding to this effect.
Volvo buses would be deployed for these tours and the first set of vehicles would arrive next month. These buses would be decorated with pictures of tourist destinations in Uttar Pradesh.
The buses, accompanied by tourism police and guides, would offer hop-on, hop-off facilities.
So far, only private players have been operating such tours in the state. But now the government has decided to launch similar service, with promises of better amenities.
Tourists would be offered 20 per cent discount in hotels operated by Uttar Pradesh tourism. State tourism Director-General Amrit Abhijat said the government has to ensure there is a sense of security among tourists, domestic and international, when they visit Uttar Pradesh.
In the first phase, tourist and religious destinations in Lucknow, Sitapur, Allahabad, Chitrakoot, Ayodhya and Bareilly would be covered.
The government is giving priority to package tours in the Buddhist circuit, since it attracts a large number of foreign backpackers, who primarily look forward to government-operated services for reasons of safety and security. The government wants to capitalise on this sentiment.
The Buddhist circuit tours would cover Varanasi, Sarnath, Kushinagar, Lumbini, Sravasti and Varanasi. Besides, another circuit of Mathura, Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi, Vrindavan and Govardhan would be covered in subsequent phases.
