VARANASI, Sept. 27 -- A total of 52.71 crore tourists, including Indian and foreign tourists, visited Varanasi between 2014 and July, 2026. According to the tourism department, these include 52,40,46,803 Indian tourists and 30,95,011 foreign tourists. According to the data, compared to the number of tourists who visited Varanasi in' 2014 - 4,10,70,422 - more people had already visited by July 2016. The continuously increasing number of tourists reflects the changing face of Varanasi and has also directly impacted the local economy and tourism industry, claimed tourism officials. The increase in tourist movement has raised demand for hotels, guest houses, restaurants, boat operations, flowers and garlands, puja materials, taxis and auto-rickshaws, tour and travel services, and local markets and handicraft products. This has created new employment and income opportunities for small businesses associated with tourism, shopkeepers, boatmen, guides, artisans and people working in the service sector. Thus, tourism is no longer limited to religious and cultural experiences, but is becoming one of the important sectors driving Varanasi's local economy. "Our effort is to connect tourists with modern tourism while preserving the centuries-old traditions of Varanasi, so that tourists from across the world come here not only for darshan, but also return after experiencing Varanasi's culture, heritage and way of life," said, Uttar Pradesh tourism and culture minister Jaiveer Singh....