The droves of pilgrims congregating at the recently-concluded Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj gave a glimpse of how faith can play a major part in pushing religious tourism, leading to employment and revenue generation. With the country celebrating two important festivals- Eid and Navratri- it gives an opportunity to assess the rise of spiritual tourism in the country.
According to the recent Ministry of Tourism data, religious tourism witnessed 1,439 million tourists in 2022, generating ₹1.34 trillion in revenue. Religious tourism is expected to generate $59 billion by 2028 and create 140 million temporary and permanent jobs by 2030.