UP to hold maiden Tourism Day on February 14

The Uttar Pradesh government will hold its first-ever 'UP Tourism Day' on February 14, an official said on Wednesday.

The festivities, to continue for three days, will be marked by hot-air balloon rides in the state capital and a cultural festival later at the Janeshwar Mishra park here, director general of UP tourism Navneet Sehgal told media persons here.

Simultaneously, awareness programmes will be held in all 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh, with special focus on places of historical interest, wildlife circuits and religious spots.

The hot-air balloon ride in the city of Nawabs will only be for entrants whose slogans are selected by the tourism department for promotion of tourism.

A vintage car rally, in two legs, will be flagged off later. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav will kick-start the day's events on Sunday.

An Avadhi food festival will also be held at the over 300-acre Janeshwar Mishra park to allow people have a taste of authentic Avadhi cuisine.

The festivities will continue for three days, during which eminent filmmaker Muzaffar Ali will also present theatre at the Chattar Manzil.

In 2015, 19.74 crore domestic tourists visited Uttar Pradesh as against 31.42 lakh from abroad. It was eight percent higher over the numbers in 2014.