Categories: Travel

Uttar Pradesh to launch new Heritage Tourism policy, ET TravelWorld

Uttar Pradesh is preparing for a comprehensive Heritage Tourism Policy to revitalise its historic forts, palaces, and mansions through adaptive reuse, promoting experiential tourism. This initiative, inspired by Rajasthan’s success in leveraging heritage properties for tourism, aims to create sustainable models for preserving history while boosting the local economy.

The Department of Tourism, in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), hosted a Heritage Tourism Conclave in Lucknow on 7 December. The event convened over 50 royal families, hotel groups, investors, and consultants to discuss the draft policy and gather feedback for finalisation before cabinet approval.

During the conclave, Prateek Hira, Chairman of FICCI’s UP Tourism Committee, highlighted the growing demand for experiential travel, where visitors immerse themselves in the historic environment of heritage properties. Hira emphasised that Rajasthan’s approach to adaptive reuse has successfully preserved historic structures and fostered economic sustainability.

The council, to be headed by district magistrate of the respective district, will have district tourism officer, regional tourism officer and officers of the concerned department as its members. The draft proposal in this regard was approved by the state cabinet in July. In another initiative, the state tourism department has set various categories for selecting a tourist spot, including cultural, historical and religious importance, popular fairs and festivals, literature, food, handicrafts, artworks and so on. Industry experts have lauded the idea.

Principal Secretary and Director General of Tourism Mukesh Kr. Meshram assured stakeholders of government support, including infrastructure improvements, fiscal incentives, and enhanced visibility through signage. Meshram also revealed that key heritage properties under state archaeology have been leased to hotel groups, with projects set to launch soon. Special Secretary Tourism Eesha Priya presented the draft policy, which offers subsidies to incentivise participation. Director Tourism Prakhar Misra showcased the state’s heritage landscape and highlighted opportunities for eco-tourism and adventure activities to enrich visitor experiences.

The conclave concluded with an open feedback session moderated by Prateek Hira, ensuring stakeholder input shapes a robust policy. Uttar Pradesh aims to position itself as a premier heritage tourism destination, preserving its historic legacy while creating economic opportunities.