During the 49-day Kumbh Mela 2019 that concluded in March, a significant 24.01 crore people visited the Sangam city. It is said to be not only the highest footfall the mela has ever witnessed in its history but also more than the annual footfall of tourists Uttar Pradesh had between 2014 and 2017.
The Kumbh 2019 visitors included 10.30 lakh foreign tourists. The Maha Kumbh Mela held in 2013 had seen 7.86 crore pilgrims, including 3.50 lakh foreign tourists, arriving here.
As per official figures made available by the UP tourism department, 2014 witnessed a total of 18.71 crore tourists in the state. They included 18.42 crore Indians and 29.09 lakh foreigners while in 2015, 20.96 crore tourists, including 20.65 crore Indians and 31.04 lakh foreigners, visited the state.
Further, official records of the department revealed that in 2016, 21.67 crore tourists visited different parts of the state. They included 21.35 crore Indians and 31.56 lakh foreign visitors. In 2017, a total of 23.75 crore tourists visited the state. They included 23.39 crore Indians and 37.80 lakh foreigners.
However, in 2018, the number of tourists having visited the state was more than the footfall witnessed in 2019 Kumbh Mela.
Last year, a total of 28.88 crore tourists, including 28.50 crore Indians and 37.80 foreigners, visited UP.
Secretary, Prayagraj Mela Authority, Vijay Kiran Anand said, “The Kumbh Mela was a memorable event which the world witnessed. The mela witnessed ambassadors of 71 nations arriving on the banks of Sangam besides three world records had made the mela enter the Guinness Book of World Records.”
Regional tourist officer, Prayagraj, Anupam Srivastava said preparations for making the forthcoming Magh Mela had already started with several facilities being proposed including a 2.1 kilometre ropeway between ‘Ulta Qila’ and ‘Triveni Pushp’ having an estimate price tag of Rs 65 crore.
He said the proposal was pending with the state government and a decision in this context was expected after poll results.
First Published:
May 21, 2019 10:16 IST
Source: HindustanTimes