Increased thrust on tourism development by UP through steps like enhancing air connectivity, development of heritage sites, better management of pilgrimage places etc could create a million direct and indirect jobs alone.

"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 employment opportunities," Assocham secretary general D S Rawat said.Besides, growth and of tourism in UP could mobilise investment in hospitality sector from both private & public sources and attract indirect revenue like tax collections thereby filling state's coffers.Total tourist arrival in UP had increased by 34% year-on-year (y-o-y) from about 170 million in 2012 to 230 million in 2013, the study revealed.