Ayodhya is on track to become the world’s largest spiritual destination as infrastructure in the temple city improves and more Indians travel for religious reasons, says Puneet Chhatwal, managing director and CEO of Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL).
He dismissed the idea that so-called revenge tourism — individuals or groups undertaking extended or extravagant trips after a period of pandemic-induced restrictions — has led to the travel industry’s recent boom. People travel because they have more disposable income, their priorities have changed and there is a feel-good factor, he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22. IHCL, owner of the premium Taj hotels and resorts, has signed three hotels under SeleQtions, Vivanta and Ginger brands in Ayodhya.
“Look at the rich cultural heritage or the monuments or temples of the country. Spiritual tourism is booming. I recently went to Ayodhya and I just couldn’t believe what I saw. If everything goes as I understand it, honestly “This will be bigger than the greatest spiritual destinations you know in the world,” Chhatwal said in a speech at the 45th anniversary celebrations of accounting firm PKF Sridhar & Santhanam on Monday evening.
In January, Ayodhya Divisional Commissioner Gaurav Dayal announced that around 50 reputed hotels have made investments in major projects in Ayodhya and their construction is underway. These hotels include Taj, Marriott, Ginger, Oberoi, Trident and Radisson and they will be completed and operational soon, he had said.
Chhatwal said tourism did not find a place in the list of concurrent constitutions as the country was poor at that time and priorities were different. “If you look at tourism holistically around the world, 10 percent of the contribution to global GDP comes from tourism. Ten percent of all jobs come from tourism. More importantly, 20 percent of all new jobs created come from tourism. sector,” he said.
“India itself contributes about six percent to GDP (gross domestic product) and accounts for eight percent of jobs. This is very low and should show exponential growth. I say in Hindi that ‘picture abhi shuru hui hai’ (the show has just started). It’s not like what people call ‘revenge travel’, where people travel more because Covid is over. No, people travel because they like to travel. People travel because the consumer has changed and they have more disposable items. income. People travel for the general ‘feel good’ factor. So there is a change in lifestyle and it is not going to stop,” he said.
First print: March 19, 2024 | 3:36 PM IST