Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the Union Budget 2024-25 on Tuesday with some key measures being introduced for the tourism sector. With extensive focus on spiritual and cultural tourism, these measures are expected to shape and change travel trends in the country in the upcoming years. (Pics: IANS/PTI)
Updated On: 2024-07-24 06:36 PM IST
Compiled by : Raaina Jain
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.
