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Mahakumbh set to boost tourism in Uttar Pradesh, creating jobs for over 45,000 families

By Our Correspondent

Prayagraj: The Yogi government is making significant efforts to enhance the tourism sector in Uttar Pradesh, with the upcoming Mahakumbh in Prayagraj poised to play a crucial role in this initiative. It is anticipated that over 45,000 families will benefit from direct or indirect employment opportunities linked to this grand event.

Notably, to boost tourism, a series of training programs are being conducted across Prayagraj. These initiatives aim to enhance the skills of vendors and service providers, ensuring they are well-prepared to cater to the influx of visitors during the Mahakumbh.

Highlights

  • Yogi government revitalizes UP’s tourism sector through skill development initiatives
  • Skill development training opens new employment opportunities for tourist service providers in UP
  • Prayagraj pioneers employment opportunities for boatmen and street vendors with tour guide training
  • UP set to provide skilled and smart service providers to tourists during Mahakumbh 2025

In addition to supporting existing businesses, these training programs are expected to create new sources of employment around various religious tourist sites, further contributing to the economic growth of the region.

The Yogi government has undertaken several initiatives to revitalize the tourism sector in Uttar Pradesh, including approving the new Tourism Policy-2022 on November 16, 2022, which enhanced tourism in the state. The policy aims to attract an investment of Rs 20,000 crores and create jobs for 10 lakh people.

A key focus is to connect service providers in the tourism industry with skill development and management training. The Prayagraj Mahakumbh is serving as a major platform for this effort.

Aparajita Singh, the Regional Tourism Officer of Prayagraj, mentioned that a training campaign has been launched for all service providers who interact with tourists during the Mahakumbh. This includes training for boatmen, tour guides, street vendors, and others in skill development and management.

The Yogi government is enhancing the role of boatmen who operate in the rivers near religious sites in Uttar Pradesh by increasing their income and developing their skills. The Tourism Department is providing training to 2,000 boatmen for this purpose.

According to Regional Tourism Officer Aparajita Singh, an MoU has been signed with Manyavar Kanshiram Tourism Management Institute and another institution to facilitate this training. So far, 300 boatmen have received skill development training, enabling them to take on the additional role of river guides alongside their boating duties. This initiative aims to create job opportunities for thousands of boatmen and improve the overall environment of tourist destinations.

To further boost tourism, the Tourism Department is also focused on enhancing the capabilities of service providers at these sites. To achieve this, they are offering skill development and management training to 1,000 tour guides in Prayagraj. This training is being led by Assistant Professor Prakhar Tiwari from Manyavar Kanshiram Tourism Management Institute in Lucknow.

According to Tiwari, seven batches of tour guides have already been trained, with 420 tour guides now ready to provide their services after completing the program.

There is a pressing need to build a pool of trained workers in the tourism sector to ensure quality service for visitors. This skilled manpower will be crucial for accommodating the large number of tourists expected at the Mahakumbh.

The Regional Tourism Officer of Prayagraj further mentioned that the Tourism Department is committed to enhancing the skills of all service providers linked to the tourism industry. In addition to training tour guides and boatmen, the department is now focusing on street vendors and taxi drivers in the city.

Street vendors play a vital role in the urban economy, supplying essential goods to locals while also interacting with tourists. Training for these vendors is essential for improving their customer service skills and promoting cleanliness at tourist sites.

The Tourism Department has initiated training for 600 street vendors and 600 taxi drivers in Prayagraj, with 250 street vendors and 120 taxi drivers already trained.

The Yogi government’s new tourism policy is proving to be a game changer for the sector, creating numerous employment opportunities. The provision of skill development and management training for these service providers ahead of the Mahakumbh is likely to create employment for the youth on a large scale and increase their incomes.

Singh estimates that over 45,000 families will benefit from this training initiative, gaining direct or indirect employment and fostering new job opportunities around religious tourist sites.

PDA accelerates work on 50 projects to ensure stronger roads by Nov 30

Under the Yogi government’s leadership, the Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA) is making comprehensive preparations to ensure a successful and smooth Mahakumbh 2025. To facilitate the movement of devotees and tourists, PDA has set a target to complete the widening and strengthening of Prayagraj’s main roads by November 30.

With just over 70 days remaining until the start of Mahakumbh, the city is gearing up to welcome visitors from around the world. PDA is managing a total of 50 development projects, with 4 already completed. To further enhance the city’s infrastructure, PDA aims to complete an additional 31 projects by November 15, significantly improving key areas.

The remaining 15 projects, including road widening, drainage improvements, lighting installations, and other infrastructure upgrades, are set for completion by November 30. These developments are intended to ease city traffic flow and ensure a seamless experience for the influx of devotees and tourists during the Mahakumbh.

The target has been set to complete the work of Hanuman Temple Corridor, one of the major attractions of Mahakumbh, by December 10, 2024. This corridor is not only important for religious reasons but will also draw in tourists. Finishing this project on time will help manage crowds and improve the experience in the temple area.

Recently, CM Yogi Adityanath and Union Tourism and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat reviewed the Mahakumbh preparations. During the meeting, the Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA) shared updates on their projects and assured that work would be completed on schedule.

Ajit Kumar Singh, PDA Secretary, remarked: “Crores of devotees are expected to come to the Mahakumbh. To facilitate their movement, work is being rapidly on the widening, strengthening as well as beautification of roads. Prayagraj Development Authority is committed to make the experience of devotees and tourists memorable by completing all the projects on time.”

 

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