TravTalk India Online Magazine
The development of Ayodhya is a priority for the Uttar Pradesh government. Ayodhya will soon become a popular tourist attraction for both domestic and foreign visitors. To exploit its heritage, the government along with Indian Association of Tour Operators, invited 60 tour operators exclusively to the state, for tourism development.
Janice Alyosius
The Uttar Pradesh government has highlighted the measures it has done to encourage tourism in the state, particularly in Ayodhya. The celebrations began the day before Diwali with the lighting of diyas. On the banks of the Saryu River, almost nine lakh diyas were lit, setting a Guinness World Record. The Deepotsav festival and the construction of the great Ram Temple in Ayodhya are both part of the state’s tourism efforts. The UP governement in collaboration with the Indian Association of Tour Operators, invited about 60 tour operators from throughout India.
The government of UP has showcased the initiatives taken to promote tourism in the state, especially in Ayodhya. “Diwali was celebrated in Ayodhya at a very high level, breaking the Guinness world record,” Manmeet Singh, Chairman of IATO, Punjab, remarked during the ceremony. The event was a watershed moment in the history of tourism in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Ayodhya has a long history, and connecting it to tourism is a natural fit. The efforts of the Uttar Pradesh government will bear fruit since we have a large Hindu diaspora and people of all faiths, not just Hindus, would love to visit Ayodhya given the current state of development.”
Talking about the future prospect of tourism in Ayodhya, Amit Gupta, General Manager, Indo Asia Tours, said, “I think Ayodhya can easily be promoted as an additional destination to Lucknow, especially for non-resident Indian (NRI) clients and for domestic clients as well. For inbound tourism we might need more facilities but the way Uttar Pradesh tourism is working, is commendable. The way Uttar Pradesh government is developing the city, in days to come, Ayodhya will definitely come up as a great destination especially for domestic and the international tourists. Ayodhya has a huge heritage potential and the city is not just about the Ram temple but there is much more to do in Ayodhya and that is what the government of Uttar Pradesh is trying to promote”.
“We are honoured to be invited by the Uttar Pradesh government and Indian Association of Tour Operators, to this Fam Tour and to witness the beautiful Deepotsav celebration in Ayodhya,” Vishwamitra Singh, Director, Leisure & Pleasure International, said. “The government of Uttar Pradesh has pleased us with its efforts. In the future, Ayodhya will be compared to the Taj Mahal or India’s prime representative. The master plan that was presented to us is fantastic. The construction of the temple may take a long time because it is a massive undertaking which will definitely require time to come up. We would like the Uttar Pradesh government to make arrangements for local travel operators to come to Ayodhya and view the birthplace of Lord Ram, as this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” he concluded.
