Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the leading destination for domestic tourism in India in 2025 while securing the fourth position nationwide in terms of foreign tourist arrivals, according to data released by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. The achievement reflects the state’s sustained efforts over recent years to revive its vast religious, cultural and historical heritage while simultaneously upgrading modern tourism infrastructure.

As per official figures, more than 137 crore domestic tourists visited Uttar Pradesh in 2025, alongside 3.66 lakh foreign tourists. The state government described this as a landmark moment in Uttar Pradesh’s tourism journey, underscoring the success of large-scale restoration projects, improved connectivity, enhanced hospitality services and aggressive global promotion of the state’s cultural assets.

A defining factor behind this unprecedented footfall was the Mahakumbh 2025 held in Prayagraj. The mega religious congregation recorded a historic turnout of over 66 crore devotees, making it one of the largest human gatherings in the world. The Mahakumbh not only reinforced Prayagraj’s global spiritual significance but also generated massive economic activity across sectors such as transport, accommodation, food services and local crafts.

Beyond Prayagraj, other iconic religious and cultural centres such as Ayodhya, Varanasi, Mathura-Vrindavan and Shravasti witnessed a surge in visitor numbers, consolidating their status as major tourism hubs. Ayodhya continued to attract pilgrims from across India and abroad, while Varanasi’s ghats, temples and cultural performances reinforced the city’s image as a living embodiment of India’s spiritual and artistic traditions. Mathura-Vrindavan’s association with Lord Krishna and Shravasti’s importance in Buddhist heritage further diversified the state’s tourism profile.

The tourism department attributed much of this growth to the revival of destinations that had remained neglected prior to 2017. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, focused attention has been given to heritage conservation, urban beautification and integrated development of tourist circuits. Alongside restoration of historical and religious sites, equal emphasis was placed on strengthening transport infrastructure, hospitality facilities and last-mile connectivity, enabling smoother travel experiences for both domestic and international visitors.

Improved air connectivity through new and expanded airport services, along with enhanced rail and bus networks, has significantly reduced travel barriers. The expansion of hotels, homestays and guest houses across urban and rural areas has also ensured adequate accommodation for the rising number of tourists. These measures collectively contributed to a notable increase in foreign tourist arrivals in 2025.

During the year, the Uttar Pradesh tourism department initiated development projects worth ₹1,283.33 crore. Key projects included the beautification of ghats in Varanasi, construction of an integrated circuit house and convention centre, development of the Kalinjar integrated route in Chitrakoot, and the creation of tourist facility centres along the Ram Van Gaman Marg, a route linked with the life of Lord Ram.

Restoration work is currently underway at several culturally significant sites, including Bhagwanpur Temple in Moradabad, Ajitashram Yog Kunj in Shahjahanpur, and heritage locations in Valmiki Nagar such as Lav Kush Kuti, Tretayug Bhoomi Kuti, Bharatkothi, Sita Rasoi and Kausalya Sthal. In addition, five new projects worth ₹7 crore were launched through district tourism units. Under the Mukhyamantri Tourism Development Cooperation Scheme, two projects were approved in 2025, with four more expected to receive approval soon.

Cultural events played a crucial role in sustaining tourist interest throughout the year. Flagship celebrations such as Deepotsav in Ayodhya, Dev Deepawali in Varanasi, Rangotsav in the Braj region and the Magh Mela have evolved into nationally and internationally recognised attractions. In 2025, the Deepotsav in Ayodhya broke its own Guinness World Record for lighting earthen lamps, while the world’s largest Ram Takht, showcased during Ramleela in Varanasi, also earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Visitors were offered immersive cultural experiences through performances such as Ram Katha on the ghats of the Ganga, Kathak dance presentations, 3D hologram shows and large-scale projection mapping. Holi celebrations, including Lathmar Holi of Mathura, Chilka Holi of Ramnagar and the Holi of Kashi, drew tourists from across the country and overseas.

Numerous regional festivals further boosted tourism and local employment. Events like Ghaghra Mahotsav, Brahma Mahotsav, Makar Sankranti Mahotsav, Dudhi Mela, Ghazipur Mahotsav, Varanasi Mahotsav and Lalgarh Mela of Chitrakoot contributed to increased footfall, higher revenue generation and strengthened livelihoods for artisans, performers and small businesses.

The state’s long-term vision is anchored in the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Policy 2022, which aims at multi-dimensional tourism development. Under this policy, 1,757 tourism units have been registered on the state tourism portal, and investment proposals worth ₹37,688.58 crore have been received, reflecting strong private sector interest.

On the global stage, Uttar Pradesh actively promoted its tourism potential by participating in major international platforms such as Zurich Travel Mart, Global Travel Market 2025, Paris Fashion Week, GTAC Tokyo Sydney, ITB Asia and FITUR 2025. Domestically, the state expanded its outreach through ITB India, GTA events in multiple cities and Expo Jaipur.

Youth empowerment formed another key pillar of tourism development. Through the Chief Minister Tourism Fellowship Programme, young professionals received structured training, while Youth Tourism Teams were formed in all districts to assist visitors and promote heritage conservation. In collaboration with the central government, the department conducted 17 travel and tourism courses, enabling youth to pursue careers as tourist guides, cabin crew members and hospitality professionals.

Major infrastructure projects under central schemes are also progressing. Under Swadesh Darshan Scheme 2.0, Azad Park and the Knowledge Hub in Prayagraj and the Buddhist Museum in Shravasti are being developed. With support from the Ministry of Finance under the Museum and Heritage Cluster Phase 1, development works are underway at 1857 freedom struggle sites in Kanpur, Nawabganj Temple in Sultanpur and Farrukhabad, and Maa Kamakshi Devi Temple in Chitrakoot.

The promotion of homestays and rural tourism has boosted self-employment and revived folk music, traditional cuisine and local customs, ensuring that tourism growth remains inclusive and culturally rooted. Together, these initiatives have positioned Uttar Pradesh not only as India’s most visited domestic tourism destination in 2025 but also as a rapidly rising global tourism brand.