Ayodhya tourism boom: Visitor count jumps from 60 lakh to 16.4 crore in four years

Ayodhya has witnessed a sharp rise in visitor numbers over the past few years. This increase has coincided with the construction and inauguration of the Ram Temple in 2024, along with a broader infrastructure push across the temple town.

According to a Press Information Bureau release, the number of visitors to the district increased from 6,022,618 in 2020 to 164,419,522 in 2024. State tourism figures also show that Ayodhya recorded more than 2.84 lakh visitors in 2017, rising to 2.39 crore in 2022, 5.75 crore in 2023 and over 16.44 crore in 2024. In fact, in the first quarter of 2025 alone, the city recorded more than 20 crore visitors, according to official data.

The expansion of transport infrastructure has been central to accommodating the increase in arrivals. The redevelopment of the Ayodhya Dham railway station, along with the inauguration of Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, has significantly enhanced connectivity to the temple town. It currently connects Ayodhya with major Indian cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata.

Official data of the Uttar Pradesh government says that the total tourist footfall across the state increased from 23.75 crore in 2017 to more than 109.65 crore in the first quarter of 2025. Ayodhya has accounted for a substantial share of that growth, with official figures indicating that nearly one in five domestic tourists visiting Uttar Pradesh in recent years travelled to the temple town.

The tourism surge has also created opportunities for businesses linked to hospitality, retail, transport and pilgrimage services. Local traders, hotel operators, transport providers and small businesses have reported an increase in demand as the number of visitors grow. This rise in tourism is linked to new investments and employment generation across sectors associated with the visitor economy.

The economic impact of the tourism surge is also reflected in local incomes and government revenues. According to a study published by the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow in February, based on Ayodhya's post-temple economy, the average daily earnings of a shopkeeper in the city have increased nearly fivefold, from around Rs 400-500 a day before the recent tourism boom to approximately Rs 2,500 a day.

The study further found significant appreciation in property values, with real estate prices rising by 25-40% across the city and by as much as five to ten times in areas surrounding the Ram Mandir.

The increase in commercial activity has also translated into higher tax collections. It was also noted that Ayodhya has generated around Rs 400 crore in Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue.

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