INDIA FAITH BASED TOURISM MARKET SIZE AND SHARE ANALYSIS - GROWTH TRENDS AND FORECASTS (2024-2031)

One of the major factors hindering the growth of faith-based tourism in India is the lack of proper transportation facilities near important religious sites. Many holy pilgrimage destinations, especially in rural areas, do not have adequate infrastructure to transport large numbers of domestic and international tourists. The lack of coordinated multi-modal transport linkages between railway stations, bus stations and the actual religious sites force pilgrims to rely on inconvenient and costly private transport options. This discourages families and older visitors who find difficulty in navigating between modes of transport while carrying luggage and provisions. According to the Ministry of Tourism, government of India, nearly 60% of important sites like temples, churches, mosques, and gurudwaras lack proper amenities and signage, and over 25% do not even have basic access by public transport within 5 kilometers. This poor connectivity acts as a deterrent for visitors and restricts the number of pilgrims being able to access these destinations easily and comfortably.

Market Opportunities: Develop new pilgrimage routes and sites

Developing new pilgrimage routes and sites can provide a huge opportunity to boost faith-based tourism in India. India is home to many major religious sites for religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism, and others. However, there are still plenty of lesser-known temples, monasteries, and shrines that have significant religious importance but have not been developed well for tourism. Establishing better routes, infrastructure, and amenities to access such currently obscure sites can expose many more domestic and international devotees to India's rich spiritual heritage. For example, there are numerous Jain holy sites scattered across Rajasthan that remain rather inaccessible today. Developing circuit routes connecting temples like Shikharji, Ranakpur, Kumbhalgarh, etc. along with enhancing facilities at each stop can encourage pilgrims to experience the diverse architectural and spiritual influences across this region. Similarly, Buddhist trails in Ladakh and the northeast which weave through monasteries, caves, and mountain passes holding religious significance present tremendous scope. The Union Ministry of Tourism's Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) scheme, launched in 2020, recognizes the need to boost accessibility and promotion of off-beat pilgrim destinations.