The Uttar Pradesh Water Tourism and Adventure Sports Policy (UP Water Tourism and Adventure Sports Policy 2023) has been approved by the Yogi government in a cabinet meeting held at Lok Bhavan on Tuesday. This policy will be applicable to all inland land-based, air-based, and water routes, including dams, reservoirs, lakes, rivers, ponds, and various adventure activities within the state\’s jurisdiction in Uttar Pradesh.
The policy is set to be valid for a duration of 10 years, starting from the date notified by the State Government. Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh highlighted the potential for water-based tourism and adventure sports in the Vindhya and Bundelkhand regions, covering approximately 16,620 sq km in the foothills of the Himalayas. The state\’s diverse landscapes, forest expanses, flowing rivers, beautiful waterfalls, and water bodies present ample opportunities for promoting tourism and adventure sports in the region.
To facilitate the implementation of the policy, adventure sports units will be established at the divisional level by the nodal agency. Additionally, the Uttar Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation will collaborate with the Uttar Pradesh Ex-Servicemen Welfare Corporation to include ex-servicemen in the adventure sports unit. The nodal agency will conduct potential studies for water-based tourism and adventure sports on designated land areas and water sources and issue licenses accordingly. A detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) will be prepared by the nodal agency within 60 days from the date of policy issuance.
Furthermore, the Yogi cabinet has taken significant steps in the tourism sector. The approval has been granted to develop and operate closed, loss-making, or non-operational tourist accommodation houses owned by the tourism department through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode. About 86 Rahi tourist accommodation houses operated by the tourism department will be developed under this initiative, with 31 of them already approved for PPP development. Ten of these accommodations have received favorable bids in e-tendering, including locations like Sonauli Maharajganj, Bateshwar Agra, Gokuldham Mathura, Kalinjar Banda, Radhakunj Mathura, Sandi Hardoi, Neemsar Sitapur, Deogarh Lalitpur, and Bhadohi. These accommodations will be leased for a duration of 30 years, with an option for renewal for an additional 30 years, and a two-year construction period, totaling 62 years.
