Multifaceted tourism: sacred sites to staycations Emerging tourism trends
The Indian domestic travel market offers a wide range of experiences tailored to various segments of the population. Government initiatives, such as the ‘Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive’ and the ‘India Says I Do’ campaign, aim to boost business in the religious tourism and destination wedding tourism segments, respectively. Additionally, the popularity of staycations and workcations has surged, driven by changing preferences and flexible work options.The wedding tourism industry drives substantial economic growth and creates job opportunities. With special wedding packages catering to middle-class and upper-middle-class segments, destination weddings have become increasingly popular, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.
Religious tourism drives the travel and accommodation market in the country as well. India’s history and religious composition have erected numerous temples, mosques, and churches among others. The inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya has ignited a tourism surge in the city. With an estimated 100 million visitors annually, the footfall is expected to surpass that of Vatican City and Mecca individually.
Part of the over 677 million domestic tourists in the country also jumped on the staycation and workcation trend. On average, a budget-friendly traveler spent between four to five thousand Indian rupees per night on a hotel, while premium accommodation started at nine thousand Indian rupees per night.
Popular travel destinations in India
Domestic tourism in India gained momentum when the government of India launched campaigns such as Swadesh Darshan and Incredible India that no doubt, boosted domestic tourist visits across the country.The Indian state that reaped the most from such campaigns was Tamil Nadu, home to a group of monuments, forts, and museums with a history dating back to the early medieval period. It comes as no surprise that another leading domestic tourist destination was Uttar Pradesh, one of the largest Indian states, home to the iconic Taj Mahal in Agra, which was the most visited monument for domestic tourists as well as international tourists. The Red Fort in Delhi and the Sun Temple in Konark also ranked high, showing a wide range of interests, from historic, and political to religious.
