Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced some key measures for tourism sector (Pic: PTI/iStock)
The push for spiritual tourism is set to transform India's sacred sites like Vishnupad and Mahabodhi Temple in Bihar, and boost economy. Infrastructure development around temples and other sites will elevate the overall experience of tourists and also help position India as a global destination for spiritual and cultural tourism.
Searches for spiritual destinations like Varanasi, Tirupati and Ayodhya have been on a rise. This push is expected to further drive growth in tourism of these places and add more spiritual and cultural destinations to the mix.
The government’s PRASAD Scheme has transformed Varanasi's tourism sector, attracting over 10 crore visitors to Kashi Vishwanath Dham since the corridor project completion in 2021. Similar boost may occur for other spiritual destinations being developed.
These spiritual, religious and cultural destinations, however, face connectivity challenges and need a huge push and upgradation measures.
The government's spiritual tourism push also lacks hotel development policies and promotion of inbound tourism, and ignores key demands from the tourism industry like GST rationalisation, granting of infrasturcture status, etc.
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