Religious tourism is on the rise in Uttar Pradesh, and the state government is placing significant emphasis on this sector. To further promote religious tourism, there is a pressing need for direct connectivity between Agra to Ayodhya and Varanasi.
Introducing direct flights between these cities would not only provide convenience to travellers but also boost tourist arrivals in Agra. The city has seen a consistent increase in tourists visiting the Taj Mahal, with over 6.5 million Indian tourists and 580,000 foreign tourists last year.
Given the potential for growth in religious tourism, stakeholders are advocating for enhanced air connectivity between Agra and other Indian states.
“There is a need to start direct flights from Agra to Ayodhya and Varanasi. Many travellers who come to Agra also visit Varanasi. However, in the absence of direct flights, they have to rely on trains or road trips, which are time-consuming. These flights would save travel time and offer greater convenience,” said Sunil C Gupta, Chairman of IATO’s Northern Region.
“Currently, Agra has air connectivity to destinations like Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Lucknow. Flights to Ahmedabad, Bhopal, and Jaipur have ceased operations. There is a need for flights from Agra to Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Surat, Chennai, Ayodhya, and Varanasi. This would improve air connectivity to southern India and support the growth of the tourism sector,” said Rajesh Sharma, Secretary of the Tourism Guild of Agra.
