TravTalk India Online Magazine
According to Future Market Insights (FMI), India’s spiritual tourism market size was estimated at US$1,026m in 2023, accounting for nearly 11 per cent of the global market share, and it is expected to rise in future. The rise in spiritual tourism will augment growth of travel and hospitality industries, says Jaideep Mirchandani, Group Chairman, Sky One.
While presenting the interim budget on 1 February, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman expressed confidence in the growth of spiritual tourism in India. She said that with emerging destinations like Ayodhya, the influx of tourists to such locations would surge, thereby positively impacting various sectors, including infrastructure, hospitality, and aviation. The minister also announced that the government would encourage more states to comprehensively develop iconic tourist centres, brand them effectively, and market them on a global scale. From Varanasi to Bodh Gaya, Ajmer Sharif Dargah and the Golden Temple, spiritual tourism holds a special significance in India, as it is rooted in a rich diversity of religious traditions. Recent reports on the rise in spiritual tourism in India also support Sitharaman’s confidence in the sector.
According to Future Market Insights (FMI), the size of India’s spiritual tourism market was estimated at US$ 1,025.57 million in 2023, accounting for nearly 11 per cent of the global market share. Projections suggest that this market is now poised for even more growth in 2024. India Inc., particularly the hospitality and travel sectors, including domestic aviation, are poised to become major beneficiaries of this upsurge.
At the recently held Global Investment Summit in Uttar Pradesh, Ayodhya attracted a huge investment of `49,000 crore. SpiceJet has already responded by launching direct flights to Ayodhya from various cities, including Chennai, Bengaluru, and Mumbai. IndiGo is already operating flights to the city from Delhi, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru. Zooom, the domestic carrier that has re-entered the Indian skies, has also initiated services connecting Delhi to Ayodhya. Moreover, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has announced the launch of eight new flight routes that will connect Ayodhya with Delhi, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Patna, Darbhanga, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. These developments are indicative of the positive impact that the new spiritual destination is expected to have on India’s rapidly growing domestic aviation sector.
The growing trend will also contribute to the development of better airport infrastructure in the country. According to the Airports Authority of India (AAI), airports serving religious destinations like Shirdi, Gaya, Amritsar, and Varanasi witnessed a significant increase in footfalls in 2023. In line with this growth, we can also expect enhanced amenities at these airports. Airlines can further launch additional services from tier II and tier III cities to these spiritual destinations by partnering with the government’s Regional Connectivity Scheme – UDAN.
The increasing interest in pilgrimage destinations will also lead to collaborations between the tourism and hospitality sectors to develop packages based on the customer preferences. The requirements of a spiritual tourist are likely to differ from those of a leisure traveller. Offering dedicated services to cater to pilgrims can attract more group travellers to these destinations.
Meanwhile, another group of individuals may seek spiritual breaks along with enjoying local experiences and outdoor adventures. This is where a collaborative effort between the travel, tourism, and hospitality sectors becomes significant. India has always been seen as a spiritual destination, but now, with better connectivity, it can not only enrich the economy but also delight tourists from all over the world with the depth and vividness of our multifaceted culture.
