Lucknow, Feb 2 (IANS): New tourist spots would be opened as part of a new tourism policy in Uttar Pradesh, an official said on Tuesday.

Under this new policy, the infrastructure at existing tourist destinations would be further strengthened and made more attractive, and many new tourist spots would also be opened, Principal Secretary (Tourism) Navneet Sehgal told IANS.

"We propose to market Uttar Pradesh's tourism as a major and competitive brand across India and even abroad," he added.

In 1998, 7.27 lakh tourists visited the state, and the number grew to 29.09 lakh in 2014. The state wants to capitalize on the good environment prevailing in the state, Sehgal said.

He said the focus would be on ensuring a "happy and safe experience" for tourists.

"In the coming days we will ensure that there is forward movement in these key areas and that the state becomes a more sought after spot for both domestic and international tourists," he said.