To showcase newer tourist destinations in the state and woo more tourists, Uttar Pradesh cabinet today gave its assent to the Tourism Policy 2016, under which new tourist spots and concepts will be identified.
The state cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav resolved to identify new tourist destinations and concepts for the tourists, a government spokesperson here said.
Tourism will be accorded the status of industry and all facilities as such will be extended to this sector to make the visit to UP a pleasant experience for tourists, he said.
On the proposal to increase the strength of tourist police, he said that the number of tourist police will be increased and they would be deployed at all important destinations.
Besides, separate budgetary allocation will be made under the policy to train people for the purpose and take the help of private sector in providing facilities on roads bearing importance towards tourism, the spokesperson said.
As part of the policy, strengthening of infrastructural facilities around all religious centres of tourist interest will be undertaken, he said, adding that places having heritage buildings will be identified as heritage zones.
Regarding development of heritage sites, the official said that a separate heritage development fund will be set up for maintenance and development of important heritage monuments.
An inter-ministerial group is also likely to be constituted to address the problems concerning different departments for tourism development.
The spokesperson claimed the state was fast emerging as a major tourism destination in the country.
In 1998, the number of foreign tourists who visited the state was recorded at 7.27 lakh which rose to 29.09 lakh in 2014.
