Eco-tourism has equally good potential as spiritual tourism for UP: CM, ET HospitalityWorld
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath has said that while a major chunk of tourism that is currently happening in the state is spiritual tourism, the state has equally good potential to emerge as the eco-tourism hub of the country. He said that the diverse landscapes, natural habitats in the form of forests, wetlands, etc. and historical sites in the state make it an ideal place to be developed for nature-based tourism. The chief minister was speaking at the valedictory of a day-long ‘Samvad’ (workshop) on eco-tourism in Lucknow.Yogi said that the extreme heat-wave conditions prevailing across north India this year has really made people think about their “selfish” deeds and its after effects. The CM said that rivers which have been critical lifelines for life and civilization have been encroached upon and left to die over the years. Citing the recent action by the state government to remove all encroachments over Kukrail river and convert it into a green belt and night safari park, he said that the government had to wage a long and winding legal battle for that.
He said that there is a growing interest among people across the world to go back to nature and stay close to it, especially after the Covid-19 crisis. The government has set up a dedicated body – Eco-tourism Development Board – for the state with an objective to drive conservation based tourism into the state’s unexplored wildlife parks and at the same time use tourism as a tool to create jobs and employment in the hinterlands of the state, the CM said.
Tourism is not just fun and entertainment, it is an engine of economic growth and prosperity for people, the chief minister opined. He said that ecotourism can help take the benefits of tourism into the rural villages of the state. That will help in linking villages with the mainstream of the state.
The chief minister said that the government is ready to facilitate such initiatives with the right infrastructure in terms of connectivity, etc. He also assured support in the form of favourable policies, incentives, for helping develop tourism infrastructure in the rural areas including training to the local people.
He said that the government is serious in improving connectivity and accessibility to wildlife destinations. He said that the airstrip at Lakhimpur will be converted into a full-fledged airport soon which will improve connectivity with important parks like Dudhwa National Park and Pilibhit Tiger Reserve.
He also mentioned the proposal to convert heritage structures in Bundelkhand area into hotels and resorts and tourism sites.
Speaking on the occasion, Jaiveer Singh, tourism and culture minister of UP said that the improved law and order situation and the environment of development in terms of connectivity the state has seen under the leadership of CM Yogi Adityanath has helped in unlocking the huge potential the state has in tourism in the last few years.
The eco-tourism workshop brought together top officials of the tourism department and forest department of the state as well as private sector stakeholders associated with eco-tourism and sustainable tourism to discuss possibilities of eco-tourism in the state across diverse landscapes – national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, safari and zoological parks, wetlands and bird sanctuaries – ensuring sustainable development.
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