| Travel has always fascinated humans and religion | | | | people visited the shrine. It is believed for the year |
| sustains humanity. Nothing gets better commercially, | | | | 2008 there would be around 80 lakh people who |
| than a combination of these two. So it comes hardly | | | | would have visited the cave shrine. This upsurge in |
| as a surprise when World Tourism Organization | | | | pilgrims infuses a lot of money to the state coffers. |
| (WTO) declares that faith based travel industry or | | | | Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanam receives annually 2 |
| religion tourism is one of the fastest growing travel | | | | crore pilgrims on an average. |
| segments. According to industry estimates religion | | | | Gap between Demand and Supply |
| tourism industry worldwide is valued at more than $ 18 | | | | However infrastructure is one sector that has not |
| billion dollars. | | | | really able to keep pace with the recent boom in faith |
| In India it is believed that more than 70 % of people, | | | | based travel industry. During the peak periods every |
| who travel, do so for religion. For people outside India, | | | | major Pilgrim centre in India faces dearth of hotel |
| Buddhists and Hindus mainly arrive for pilgrimage. | | | | rooms. This creates a lot of problem to both who are |
| Tirupati and Vaishno Devi can now be counted as | | | | on shoe string budget or for more affluent devotees. |
| richest temples not only in India but in the whole world. | | | | There is a mad scramble for accommodation and |
| They are both real moneyspinners. | | | | often people have to stay in open without any option |
| According to recent reports the pilgrimage to Vaishno | | | | Solution |
| Devi generates an annual income of approximately Rs | | | | The only solution it seems is to have more hotels in all |
| 475 crore thus sustaining the local economy. The | | | | categories. One good point is that many acclaimed |
| Yatra has been able to provide livelihood to around | | | | names in the travel and hospitality sectors are now |
| 27000 people. Out of this 475 crores , commercial | | | | coming with investments at religious places. There is |
| establishments account for around 60 % . This is | | | | now a 5 star hotel in place at Katra the starting point |
| followed by the hospitality sector and the transport | | | | for Vaishno Devi Yatra. |
| sector. | | | | Famous names in the fast food sector have also |
| The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), earned | | | | realized that devotees are big consumers too No |
| around 738.36 crores during the fiscal 2006-07. By | | | | doubt Café Coffee Day has opened its |
| selling human hair alone it expects to earn 33 crores. | | | | various outlets across pilgrim centres. |
| Record Number of Pilgrims | | | | What is now needed is a drastic improvement in the |
| According to reports in the year 2007 around 75 lakhs | | | | infrastructure and basic facilities that effectively |
| visited Vaishno Devi Temple. In the current year within | | | | addresses all the segments of pilgrims. |
| the first six months a record number of 38.75 lakh | | | | |