The Uttarakhand government announced a significant increase in tourism over the past three years. Data from the Chief Minister’s Office revealed that a total of 23.46 crore tourists visited the state between 2022-23 and 2024-25, which is 22 times more than the state’s population.
Officials stated that the surge in tourist numbers was not just due to promotional efforts but also stemmed from effective planning and policy reforms. The Tourism Department highlighted that under Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s leadership, Uttarakhand experienced notable growth in religious, spiritual, and adventure tourism.
Several initiatives such as the Char Dham Yatra, adventure tourism activities, rejuvenation of religious sites, and the Homestay Scheme were credited for propelling Uttarakhand’s tourism sector to new heights. Comparatively, tourism figures stood at 13.59 crore during the Congress administration (2012-13 to 2016-17) and increased to 15 crore during Trivendra Singh Rawat’s tenure (2017-18 to 2021-22). The current Dhami government claimed a remarkable growth to 23.46 crore visitors in just three years.
The state government emphasized the positive impact of this tourism boom on Uttarakhand’s economy and job market, leading to higher local incomes and increased government revenue. However, opposition parties raised concerns about the government’s focus on publicity rather than addressing critical issues like unemployment, healthcare, and governance.
The Dhami administration introduced initiatives such as the “Winter Yatra” and “Year-Round Tourism” campaigns to promote tourism throughout the year, not just during peak seasons. These efforts have reportedly attracted more tourists during winter months and boosted economic activities in the hill districts.