Uttar Pradesh Government Appoints Dr. Vedpati Misra as Director General of Tourism

Uttar Pradesh Appoints New Tourism Chief in Strategic Administrative Reshuffle

The Uttar Pradesh Government announced an administrative reshuffle aimed at reinforcing leadership across strategic departments, including tourism. Dr. Vedpati Misra, a 2008-batch Indian Administrative Service officer, has been appointed as the new Director General of Tourism for the state. Previously serving as Secretary of the Uttar Pradesh State Information Commission, Mishra will now oversee tourism policies, promotional activities, and strategic initiatives to expand the state’s appeal to domestic and international travellers.

In a parallel move, Rajesh Kumar II, a 2009-batch IAS officer who most recently served as Director General of Tourism, has taken on a new role as Secretary of the Uttar Pradesh State Human Rights Commission. These changes reflect the state government’s focus on strengthening governance in departments that play a key role in economic growth and cultural outreach.

Tourism is one of Uttar Pradesh’s priority sectors, anchored in its historical, spiritual, and cultural heritage. The state’s tourism strategy under Mishra’s forthcoming leadership is likely to build on existing initiatives that position Uttar Pradesh as a destination with multiple tourism circuits, ranging from spiritual journeys in Varanasi, Ayodhya, Mathura and Prayagraj to heritage, rural, and wellness tourism offerings. Major projects aim to attract millions of visitors by improving infrastructure and enhancing visitor experiences at key sites such as the Buddhist circuit, which includes Sarnath and Kushinagar, locations significant to the life of Lord Buddha. These sites are being developed with improved amenities and greater accessibility to cater to both domestic and international tourists. 

Under the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Policy 2022, the state has also introduced incentives to encourage private-sector participation, with subsidies for tourism infrastructure projects, including accommodation, hospitality, and destination services. This policy framework has attracted investment and partnerships aimed at making the state a premier destination for cultural, adventure, heritage, and spiritual travel.

In addition to conventional circuits, the tourism department is promoting rural and community-led tourism. Awards and awareness campaigns have been launched to recognise villages, rural homestays and farm stays that preserve local culture and provide immersive experiences, underscoring Uttar Pradesh’s move toward experience-based travel.

Wellness tourism is another expanding segment. The state has introduced plans to establish AYUSH wellness centres and resorts at spiritual destinations such as Varanasi, Ayodhya and Mathura-Vrindavan, seeking to position Uttar Pradesh as a meaningful destination for holistic travel experiences.

With projected tourism footfall expected to grow substantially in the coming years, including targets to attract 80 crore visitors by 2028, Uttar Pradesh’s renewed leadership in tourism signals an effort to leverage its cultural depth and emergent experiential offerings to compete on the global stage.