Uttar Pradesh Government Announces Major Religious Tourism Push in 2026-27 Budget
The Uttar Pradesh government has unveiled a substantial financial commitment to religious tourism in its 2026-27 state budget, earmarking a significant Rs 500 crore under the Chief Minister Tourism Development Scheme. This strategic allocation is specifically designed to strengthen and modernize infrastructure across key pilgrimage destinations throughout the state, reflecting a clear policy focus on faith-based travel.
Record Tourist Numbers Drive Budgetary Focus
Presenting the budget in Lucknow, Finance Minister Suresh Khanna highlighted a remarkable surge in tourist arrivals as the primary rationale for this enhanced focus. Official data reveals that between January and June 2025, Uttar Pradesh welcomed nearly 122 crore visitors. This impressive figure includes over 121 crore domestic tourists and more than 33 lakh foreign arrivals, collectively underlining the growing national and international prominence of the state's spiritual and heritage circuits.
Major Allocations for Key Pilgrimage Hubs
The budget outlines targeted investments for several major religious centers:
- Ayodhya: Continuing its central role, Ayodhya is set to receive Rs 150 crore for tourism infrastructure development. These funds will be channeled through the Shri Ayodhya Tirth Vikas Parishad to upgrade facilities for the millions of devotees.
- Naimisharanya: This important pilgrimage site has been allocated Rs 100 crore for comprehensive infrastructure augmentation, aimed at improving visitor amenities and management.
- Mathura: Development works in the Braj region will be executed under the Braj Teerth Vikas Parishad. The initiative focuses on strengthening facilities for pilgrims and family visitors, enhancing the overall spiritual experience.
Enhancing Amenities in Varanasi and Vindhyachal
In a parallel move, the budget provides Rs 100 crore each for enhancing tourist amenities at two critical sites:
- Vindhyavasini Devi Dham: Funds are designated for improving connectivity, crowd management systems, and accommodation options.
- Varanasi: The allocation aims to significantly upgrade the overall visitor experience in the Varanasi-Mirzapur belt, focusing on infrastructure that supports the high volume of spiritual tourists.
Homestay Initiative for Community-Led Growth
Beyond direct infrastructure funding, the government has set an ambitious target of developing 5,000 new homestays across Uttar Pradesh. This innovative initiative is designed to expand accommodation capacity while actively promoting community participation in the tourism ecosystem. Officials project that the homestay program will generate substantial local employment opportunities and encourage longer visitor stays, thereby injecting vitality into local economies.
Government's Vision for Sustainable Tourism
Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh commented on the strategic vision behind the allocations. He stated that the consistent rise in footfall reflects growing faith and confidence in Uttar Pradesh's spiritual destinations. "With enhanced allocations for Ayodhya, Naimisharanya, Varanasi, Vindhyachal, Mathura, and Prayagraj, we aim to systematically improve amenities, increase visitor comfort, and extend average stays. This holistic approach is key to strengthening local economies and ensuring sustainable tourism growth," Minister Singh emphasized.
The 2026-27 budget, therefore, positions religious tourism not just as a cultural or spiritual endeavor, but as a core economic driver for Uttar Pradesh's development, with planned investments set to transform the pilgrimage experience for millions.
