‘Spiritual Tourism on a growth trajectory in India’: KPMG and PHDCCI report

The put up ‘Spiritual Tourism on a growth trajectory in India’: KPMG and PHDCCI report appeared first on TD (Journey Each day Media) Travel Daily Media.

KPMG in India and PHDCCI have launched a report titled – “Sacred journeys: Unfolding the evolution and development of pilgrimage and religious tourism in India” at PHDCCI’s 1st International Religious Tourism Conclave. This report delves into the first motivators behind pilgrimage and religious tourism, its financial ramifications, and the challenges and prospects it provides to locations. Given the anticipated development in India’s religious tourism, it’s essential to know the push and pull components of various segments of pilgrims and supply tailor made options to help outreach.

Recognising the dangers and sensitivities linked to pilgrimage tourism is equally very important, guaranteeing that proposed options foster respectful, sustainable, and mutually useful interactions between guests and host communities.

Key highlights from the report:

1. Potential of non secular and religious tourism within the nation – Publish pandemic, religious tourism has taken centre stage with a big enhance within the variety of travellers worldwide. For example, spiritual tourism is a considerable driver of employment and financial exercise each on a world scale and inside India.
2. Evolution of non secular tourism – The idea of non secular tourism is evolving, to satisfy the altering pursuits and values of contemporary travellers and displays a broader shift in direction of extra significant, accountable, and transformative journey experiences.
   1. Digital Affect on number of websites – Trendy tendencies in spiritual tourism in India replicate the intersection of custom with up to date practices and expertise. Elevated digital affect and a rise in optimistic evaluations of journey bloggers has positively impacted the surge of non secular tourism in India.
   2. Digital pilgrimages and digital actuality – Particularly related throughout COVID-19 pandemic, digital pilgrimages have gained recognition. In put up pandemic period, inclination to journey grew to become a should for each journey fanatic. Stay streaming of non secular ceremonies, on-line darshans and 360-degree digital excursions permit devotees to take part remotely. Publish the pandemic there’s a rise in footfall of religious travellers. Many pilgrims mix spiritual visits with medical remedies or wellness retreats. Ayurvedic centres, yoga retreats and religious therapeutic practices are built-in into spiritual tourism choices.
   3. Higher connectivity and supporting Infrastructure – The improved bodily accessibility to locations, Ecosystem of journey and services like lodge to remain, facilities, excursions and journey packages have helped guests in making impromptu resolution to journey to any vacation spot.
   4.  Segments of pilgrimage tourism – Figuring out totally different classes of pilgrims and acknowledging distinctive wants of varied teams is significant for enhancing the pilgrimage expertise, managing assets successfully, and selling sustainable tourism practices. Pilgrimage tourism will be broadly categorised into three segments of believers — explorers, solo travellers, and mass organised pilgrims.

Options- Growing outreach and sharing information of frequent historical past:

1. Holistic improvement of non secular websites – With the emergence of recent traveller segments searching for distinctive and offbeat experiences, there is a chance to combine spiritual tourism with different types of tourism. By combining journey and wellness tourism at spiritual websites, these locations will be promoted as holistic journey experiences. This strategy not solely enhances the enchantment of non secular websites but additionally diversifies tourism choices, catering to a broader vary of travellers on the lookout for immersive and significant journeys.
2. Outreach for hidden gems/ lesser-known pilgrim Locations – Growing below the radar websites entails a complete strategy to spice up their visibility and enchantment to a broader vacationer demographic. This may be executed by:
   1. Analysis and documentation – Thorough analysis and documentation of a website’s historic and religious significance is a foundational step, essential for constructing a compelling narrative that may be shared with potential guests.
   2. Preservation and restoration – Bettering bodily infrastructure accessibility round these websites by way of cautious preservation and restoration efforts is essential to enhancing customer expertise.
   3. Area people involvement – Partaking native communities within the improvement course of is significant for fostering sustainable tourism practices.
   4. Academic programmes – Implementing academic programmes like guided excursions, workshops, or lectures a couple of website’s historical past and religious significance can entice vacationers with a eager curiosity in cultural and religious enrichment.
3. Carrying capability based mostly improvement initiatives of non secular locations – To handle the challenges of overcrowding at India’s famend religious locations, a complete strategy encompassing destination-level measures, precinct-level methods, and shrine-specific actions is crucial. These measures purpose to alleviate pressure on native assets, protect the sanctity of the shrines, and improve the religious expertise for all guests.
4. Digital intervention – Adopting AI and predictive analytics, with collaboration amongst native authorities, spiritual establishments, and expertise suppliers, can cater to promotion of the hidden gems of cultural, religious and spiritual significance in India whereas establishing sustainable practices for improvement of pilgrimage tourism websites.

Vivek Agarwal, Companion and Lead – Industrial and Infrastructure Improvement, KPMG in India stated, “Worldwide, India is recognised for its wealthy array of pilgrimage websites, religious landmarks, and historical therapeutic practices. Because the demand for religious tourism grows, it’s important to advertise complete, holistic, and sustainable improvement of those websites. This strategy is not going to solely enrich the religious experiences of pilgrims but additionally protect the sanctity of those locations”.

Aalap Bansal, Companion – Industrial & Infrastructure Improvement Advisory (IIDA), KPMG in India stated, “The evolution of pilgrimage and religious tourism in India mirrors broader tendencies within the tourism trade. Digital instruments and social media have considerably expanded the attain and accessibility of religious practices. Nonetheless, challenges reminiscent of over-tourism, strained infrastructure, disruptions to native communities, and cultural dilution spotlight the necessity for a holistic and sustainable strategy to website improvement. Using digital instruments and diversifying tourism choices are important for managing development and addressing these points successfully”.

In abstract, pilgrimage and religious tourism current substantial alternatives for financial development and cultural change. Adopting a sustainable and inclusive strategy to improvement can allow locations to leverage these alternatives whereas safeguarding their cultural and spiritual heritage for future generations.

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