Spiritual tourism on the rise post the pandemic

With domestic travel taking off in a big way post the pandemic, spiritual tourism is one of its fastest-growing segments. As per a travel trends analysis, spiritual tourism is going to be even bigger in 2023.
Vipul Prakash, Chief Operating Officer at MakeMyTrip, says, “Be it the Kedarnath or the Phugtal monastery trek, travelers are seeking offbeat spiritual experiences.An Uttarakhand getaway, a wellness and spiritual tour of south India and tours of temples in Indore & Ujjain are popular. ”
Daniel D’Souza, President & Country Head – Holidays, SOTC Travel, adds, “This sector has been growing rapidly with the younger consumer being highly interested in these tours. ” Rajiv Mehra, President Indian Association of Tour Operators, adds, “Spiritual tourism is an age-old ceoncept and after this pandemic halt, it is currently the fastest-growing travel segment. ”

‘TRAVELLING TO SPIRITUAL SPOTS IS NO LONGER PERCEIVED AS THE RETIRED COMMUNITY’S ACTIVITY’
Those seeking spiritual experiences are from different age groups. Jaison Chacko, Secretary General, Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), says,”Travelling to spiritual destinations is no longer perceived as the retired community’s activity. Young people are not only taking these trips, but are also travelling with their families. Spiritual and pilgrimage tourism is one of the largest contributors to the growth in domestic tourism. ” States have also come up with special packages to market regions which draw huge crowds.
Vipul Prakash adds, “Indians will also be seen opting for therapeutic retreats that allow them to disconnect from their busy lives and rejuvenate. ” Jatinder Paul Singh, Chief Operating Officer, Leisure & Retail, Yatra. com says, “There is also a spike in interest from NRI customers planning to explore the rich cultural heritage of India”
COMBINING LUXURY AND SPIRITUALITY
Travel operators say that luxury hotels and resorts have a huge demand in spiritual places. For instance, hotels in Haridwar and Rishikesh have private ghats, special Ganga aarti arrangements, daily yoga, meditation and walks. Pankaja, 28, who works in the hospitality sector in Gurgaon says, “I have been taking my parents to places like Shirdi, Rameswaram and Amritsar for years. Now there are better resorts and hotels here, which wasn’t the case earlier. ”
Travel operators say that spiritual tourism has moved beyond pilgrimage and there’s growing demand for wellness, so packages offer spiritual experiences, with rejuvenating yoga retreats and Ayurvedic spas. Nishant Malhotra, 36, recently stayed at a Rishikesh resort to focus on wellness instead of adventure. “I was surprised by the range of activities available in thespiritual package. It was like a combination of wellness and spiritual trip for me. ”
Sumit Pant, Director – Marketing & Publicity, Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, says, “The younger crowd visiting Uttarakhand for spiritual tourism has risen significantly, along with combining luxury stays with spiritual experience. ” In Uttarakhand, spiritual tours are also combined with treks to destinations like Tungnath and Chandrabadni.