The tourism industry is gaining momentum once again as COVID-19 restrictions have been relaxed in many parts of the world. While relaxing and exploring have been a point of travel for most people, post-pandemic, spiritual tourism is also on the rise in the country. According to a travel report by Thomas Cook and SOTC, India has seen a 35 percent growth in spiritual tourism.
The report also highlights the main reasons for driving religious travel in the country. One of the main reasons is the feeling of gratitude. During the pandemic, people aligned themselves more than ever with religious activities, now they are extending their gratitude to the overlords. Not only this, but to revive businesses or jobs, people are interested in seeking God’s blessings. In addition, ‘thanksgiving’ for weddings and the birth of a child is another reason for spiritual tourism.
The president and country head of Thomas Cook (India) Limited notes, “Post pandemic, we are witnessing a definite increase in spiritual tourism in thanksgiving and to invoke blessings. With the government’s strong focus on connectivity and infrastructure development, spiritual places are attracting the interest of not only senior citizens and families but also the millennial generation and groups of friends. Therefore, our product portfolio has diversified to offer a range of convenient pilgrimages and customized options that include wellness and unique local experiences, through culture, cuisine, and outdoor adventure.”
Data shows that about 50 percent of the population is made up of seniors with 35 percent of families. According to the study, major pilgrimage sites include Char Dham Yatra, Do Dham Yatra, Muktinath in Nepal, Amarnath Yatra, Vaishno Devi, Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Ayodhya, among others. Apart from senior citizens, couples and solo travelers in the age group of 30-45 years have shown a strong inclination towards spiritual packages from travel companies. They prefer packages that include yoga, meditation, and other wellness programs. Millennials and younger are more interested in spiritual tours that give them room to explore outdoor adventures and authentic local culinary and cultural experiences.
In case you too are looking to connect with nature and spirituality, you should focus on taking a spiritual tour.
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