Nasir Shaikh

Group CEO, The Lexicon Group of Institutes, MultiFit & EduCrack

Wellness retreats, Spiritual retreats and meditation resorts are coming up across the country, offering exclusive services with roots in spirituality. The recent pandemic has made people introspect and pay closer attention to their mental as well as physical well-being, with a lot more people adopting healthier lifestyles, moving towards spirituality, and seeking comfort and peace in their lives.

In India, spirituality and religion are an important part of people’s everyday lives. It is also known as the land of spirituality. People come to India from far and wide, to experience the rich culture, traditions, and diversity that the country offers. With over 32 cultural World Heritage sites designated by the United Nations, India is the perfect destination to explore spirituality.

Spiritual tourism has existed in India for a long time, with people making it a point to travel to the various spiritual hubs dispersed across the country. In recent years, Spiritual tourism has become popular among the youth, drawing people to locations like Rishikesh, the yoga capital of the world, Varanasi, a city older than history, nestled on the bank of the holy river Ganga, the Ajmer-e-Shareef Dargah, an homage to Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, the Golden Temple in Amritsar, one of the holiest of Sikh ethos, The Basilica of Bom Jesus, Goa, a structural marvel. The Indian travel market has seen significant growth in the preference for travel destinations with religious connections among travellers looking for spiritual rejuvenation while being surrounded by nature. Young adults, specifically, have shown an increased interest in immersive cultural, spiritual and one of a kind, authentic experiences.

A popular magazine Travel Trends Today has reported an increase in hotel booking in the cities of Puri, Varanasi, Tirupati and Shirdi by 60%, 48%, 34%, and 19%, respectively. The travel and tourism industry in India is estimated to increase its contribution to the GDP from 15.24 trillion INR in 2017 to 32.05 trillion INR by the year 2028, according to a survey by the Indian Brand Equity Foundation. This, along with the trend of increased preference for travel destinations with a religious connection, highlight the untapped potential that Spiritual Tourism presents in India. Improved connectivity, access to basic amenities, infrastructural improvements including hotels, etc. will benefit the tourists and result in the creation of job opportunities for the local youth and contribute to their betterment.

Spiritual Tourism has been a constant in India for quite a while and is now delighting, enlightening and mesmerising international tourists. These include individuals looking to reconnect with themselves and wanting to adopt holistic wellbeing as part of their daily lives.