ROYAL TRAVELS NEWS.

The Associated Chambers of Commerce of India (ASSOCHAM) has projected that Uttar Pradesh could attract over 28 lakh foreign tourists by 2017 up from about 20.5 lakh overseas tourists that visited the state in 2013.
The industry body has made the projection in a recent study on tourism in UP, titled 'Realising tourism potential in UP.

"Increased thrust on tourism sector development by the state government through steps like enhancing air connectivity, Development of heritage sites, better management of pilgrimage places and others can create about 10 lakh direct and indirect jobs in UP alone," the study said.

"UP has become a prominent tourist hub for foreign visitors and is just behind India's top cities of Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai in attracting foreign tourists, earning foreign exchange and creating direct and indirect employment opportunities," said national Secretary General of ASSOCHAM DS Rawat said.

Also, growth and development of tourism sector in UP could mobilise investments in hospitality sector from both private and public sources and also attract indirect revenue like tax collections thereby filling state's coffers, he said.