India's Religious and Spiritual Tourism
India's religious and spiritual tourism sector is experiencing significant growth, not only attracting numerous visitors but also generating substantial revenue. Various temples and spiritual sites are becoming key revenue streams for businesses.
Hotel Industry Expansion
- Sarovar Hotels:
- Religious and spiritual tourism constitutes 20% of the company's revenue.
- Recently signed a 129-key Sarovar Premiere in Ayodhya and a 70-key Sarovar Portico in Mathura.
- Exploring new destinations such as Ujjain, Dwarkadish, and Puri.
- Radisson Hotel Group:
- First hotel opened in Ayodhya, with plans for another.
- High occupancy rates with expectations for increased demand in the next five years.
- Signed Radisson Blu Hotel in Deoghar and Radisson RED Puri, targeting religious events like the Ratha Yatra.
- Other Hotel Chains:
- Indian Hotels Company Ltd (Taj), ITC Hotels, Park Hotels, and Lemon Tree Hotels are expanding in Ayodhya.
- Taj Ayodhya, a new luxury resort, will feature 300 rooms and 29 luxury villas.
Travel Industry Insights
- Lalit Hotels:
- Focusing on religious and spiritual circuits for its mid-scale brand, Lalit Traveller.
- MakeMyTrip:
- Significant growth in spiritual tourism, with pilgrimage city visits rising by 95% in FY24.
- Plans to expand offerings in key pilgrimage circuits to cater to the growing demand.
Visitor Statistics
- Varanasi received 62 million domestic and 184,000 international visitors.
- Mathura hosted 68 million tourists, and Tirupati welcomed over 25 million devotees.
- The Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj attracted 660 million visitors in 45 days, generating Rs 3 trillion in economic activity.
- Prayagraj Airport managed over 560,000 passengers and 5,225 flights, including 1,775 charters.
Impact of Ram Mandir Inauguration
The inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya significantly increased visitor numbers, drawing 135.5 million domestic visitors and surpassing the Taj Mahal as Uttar Pradesh's most visited site. Faith-based tourism accounts for over 60% of domestic travel in India, with sustained momentum expected due to the popularity of spiritual destinations and the rise of wellness and medical tourism.
