UP tourism showcases heritage, modern initiatives at IATO meet | Lucknow News

Lucknow/Puri: The UP tourism department showcased the state’s unique charm, rich heritage and cultural vibrancy at the 40th annual conference of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) underway in Puri. Themed ‘Rejuvenate Inbound @2030′, the event brought together nearly 1,000 participants, including tour operators, travel media representatives, hotel industry professionals and policymakers.The UP tourism stall, which displayed Kannauj’s centuries-old perfume-making tradition, the spiritual triangle of Kashi-Ayodhya-Prayagraj and glimpses of grand festivals such as Deepotsav and Rangotsav, was inaugurated by Odisha’s deputy chief minister Pravati Parida.Addressing the conference, tourism minister Jaiveer Singh said: “The IATO conference provides a significant platform to showcase UP’s tourism potential.” He said that under chief minister Yogi Adityanath, UP was being developed into India’s most diverse tourism destination.Highlighting Kannauj’s perfumes, grand cultural celebrations like Deepotsav, and the state’s rich religious heritage as UP’s unique identifiers, Singh said: “The govt’s goal is that by 2030 every tourist visiting the state should feel a deep connection with its culture and spirituality.”Principal secretary of tourism and culture department, Mukesh Kumar Meshram said, “UP is not limited to showcasing its heritage and monuments. Rapid progress is also being made in new tourism facilities, private investment and fresh experiences.” He added that special focus is on river tourism, wellness, agro-tourism and perfume tourism, providing tourists with a holistic experience. On the first day of the conference, cultural presentations and networking sessions highlighted the Ramayan Circuit, Varanasi’s riverfront, and eco-tourism in the Dudhwa and Bundelkhand regions. Over the next two days, UP will showcase its tourism opportunities to investors and partners. Director general of the ministry of tourism, govt of India, Suman Billa, chairperson of Chhattisgarh tourism board Neelu Sharma and officials of UP Tourism were present on this occasion.