Uttar Pradesh Sets Ambitious Tourism Employment Target for 2047
In a strategic move aligned with the Viksit UP for Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, the Uttar Pradesh tourism and culture departments have launched an ambitious initiative to significantly boost employment within the tourism sector. Currently, tourism accounts for approximately 1.4% of overall employment in the state. The government has now set a phased target to elevate this figure to 5% by the year 2047.
High-Level Meeting Charts the Course
A crucial brainstorming session was recently convened by Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh to outline the roadmap for achieving this goal. The meeting saw the participation of key officials, including Additional Chief Secretary Amrit Abhijat and Chief Minister's Advisor Awanish Kumar Awasthi. Minister Singh emphasized the evolving role of tourism, stating, "While pursuing the one trillion-dollar economy objective, the state recognized tourism as a pivotal driver of development. We are now repositioning it as an engine for employment-led growth."
Economic Contributions and Strategic Interventions
Officials highlighted that tourism's current contribution to the state's Gross Value Added (GVA) stands at 1.2%, with plans to increase it to 5% by 2047. Amrit Abhijat noted, "Tourism possesses a unique ability to generate large-scale, decentralized employment, particularly in accommodation, food services, transport, and related sectors. With a structured plan, the state is confident in reaching this target."
The growth strategy will be propelled by tangible interventions, including:
- Expanding room availability to 150 rooms per lakh population.
- Increasing premium hotel inventory by more than four times.
- Extending the average length of stay for foreign tourists.
Focus on Job Creation and Infrastructure Development
Minister Singh further explained, "Higher tourist stays and increased per capita spending will directly result in sustained job creation across hospitality, services, and local economies." The employment focus is central to the tourism roadmap, as the sector boasts one of the highest job multipliers and creates opportunities across various skill levels.
Key elements of the strategy include:
- Expansion of quality accommodation facilities.
- Improved air connectivity to enhance accessibility.
- Initiatives to boost tourist spending.
Strengthening Heritage and Cultural Destinations
The plan also emphasizes strengthening infrastructure across major religious and cultural hubs such as Ayodhya, Kashi, and Mathura, alongside emerging heritage sites like Naimisharanya. By building a robust tourism ecosystem, Uttar Pradesh aims to position itself among globally recognized tourism states by 2047.
Officials reiterated that this comprehensive approach is designed not only to elevate the state's economic profile but also to ensure inclusive growth through widespread employment generation in the tourism sector.
