State PCS - Uttar Pradesh (UP PCS)

• 16 Jul 2025

UP to Develop Historical Buildings into Heritage Hotels

Why in News? 

The Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department will renovate 11 historical buildings, including ancient forts, and transform them into heritage hotels, cultural centres, or museums through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to boost tourism in the state.

Key Points 

• About the Project:  
  • The project aims to preserve Uttar Pradesh’s architectural and cultural heritage while creating employment opportunities for thousands across the state. 
  • Under this initiative, private players will design, develop, and restore the identified heritage sites and hand them over to the government for further use. 
  • This heritage revival programme forms part of a larger state strategy to blend cultural conservation with modern development goals, ensuring both heritage protection and local growth. 
  • The initiative seeks to revive the Bundelkhand region’s economy through heritage-based tourism, encouraging sustainable development anchored in cultural identity. 
• Key Sites Identified for Renovation: 

Site	Location
Talbehat Fort	Lalitpur
Rangarh and Bhuragarh Fort	Banda
Wazirganj Baradari	Gonda
Alambagh Bhawan, Gulistan-e-Eram, and Darshan Vilas	Lucknow
Tikait Rai Baradari	Kanpur
Mastani Mahal and Senapati Mahal	Mahoba
Tahrauli Fort	Jhansi
Sitaram Mahal/Kotwan Fort	Mathura

UP Tourism Policy 2022 

• About: The primary objectives of tourism policy are to ensure sustainable development, enhance visitor satisfaction, boost economic growth, protect cultural and natural resources, and foster community inclusivity and participation 
• Attractive Financial Incentives: The policy offers generous subsidies and financial support, including: 
  • Capital investment subsidies ranging from 10–25% (capped at Rs 2–40 crore based on investment size). 
  • 5% interest subsidy on bank loans up to Rs 5 crore for 5 years. 
  • 100% exemption on stamp duty, land conversion fees, and employment-linked EPF reimbursements. 
  • Additional incentives target Tier 2+ locations, women entrepreneurs, SC/ST/backward classes, and focus tourism destinations.  
• Focus on Eco, Heritage & Niche Tourism: The policy promotes developing: 
  • Eco-tourism circuits like wildlife sanctuaries, camping sites, trekking, and nature walks 
  • Heritage, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Events), wellness, and amusement parks through PPP models. 
  • Integration with themed circuits—Ramayana, Krishna, Buddhist, Mahabharata, and Shakti Peeth. 
  • Uttar Pradesh recorded 65 crore tourists in 2024, driven by the development of major religious and heritage sites like Ayodhya, Kashi, and Mathura, as well as various ancient temples and pilgrimage centres. 
• Investment Facilitation & Global Promotion: UP aims to attract Rs 5,000 crore annually by: 
  • Establishing a Tourism Investor Facilitation Cell for market research, approvals, and investment support 
  • Participation in roadshows, international tourism events, and collaborative branding—placing UP on the global tourism map.