World Bank will fund ‘pro-poor tourism’ (PPT) development projects worth more than $57 million in top tourist hotspots of Agra and Braj-Mathura regions in Uttar Pradesh.

While the World Bank will incur 70% of the project cost, the remaining 30% will be borne by the UP government. According to UP tourism directorate, the World Bank and the union finance ministry have already signed loan and project agreements for the proposed PPT projects.

Pro-poor tourism is a holistic tourism concept aimed at poverty alleviation in the periphery of selected tourism hubs through interventions pertaining to the economic, social and cultural aspects of the area.