Ayodhya Ram Mandir: As the grand opening of Ayodhya’s Ram temple marks a momentous occasion, the ancient town is poised to become a key player in India’s tourism landscape. Despite existing infrastructural challenges, Ayodhya’s rise is attributed to its newfound status as a religious tourist center, coupled with improved infrastructure and enhanced connectivity. This transformation is anticipated to have a significant economic impact, drawing attention from various sectors.
Religious Tourism’s Contribution
Religious tourism, despite facing infrastructural bottlenecks, continues to play a pivotal role in India’s tourism sector. According to Jefferies, popular religious centers attract between 10 and 30 million tourists annually. Ayodhya’s emergence as a new religious tourist destination, equipped with improved infrastructure and better connectivity, is expected to create a “meaningfully large economic impact,” as highlighted in the report.
Projected Visitor Numbers and Economic Impact
With the grand opening of the Ram temple, Jefferies predicts Ayodhya to attract close to 50-100 million visitors. This estimate is nearly double the footfall of the Tirupati Temple in Andhra Pradesh, which currently sees 25 million visitors and boasts the highest collection at Rs 1,200 crore. Ayodhya’s potential to surpass Agra as a tourist hub is evident in the expected surge in visitors, drawn by the religious significance and enhanced infrastructure.
Ayodhya Masjid – A Jewel in the Crown
In addition to the Ram temple, Ayodhya’s transformative journey includes the construction of the Ayodhya Masjid. Managed by the Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation (IICF), this mosque is poised to become one of the world’s most renowned. Boasting five minarets and the capacity to accommodate 9,000 worshippers, it will house the world’s largest Quran. The mosque’s construction, expected to commence after Ramadan, is set to take three to four years, adding another layer to Ayodhya’s allure for visitors.
India’s Growing Tourism Sector
India’s overall tourism sector has been on a steady growth trajectory, with Jefferies projecting an annualized growth rate of 8% to reach $443 billion by FY33. The country’s market share has already risen by 1 percentage point in the last decade, and this upward trajectory is expected to continue, further fueled by destinations like Ayodhya.
Key Beneficiaries Across Industries
The ripple effect of Ayodhya’s ascent extends to various sectors, presenting lucrative opportunities for businesses. In the hospitality sector, the number of hotels is expected to surge from the current 17 to 73, with 40 already under construction. Companies such as Indian Hotels Company Ltd., ITC Hotels Ltd., EIH Ltd., and OYO Rooms are poised to benefit from this expansion.
Additionally, the town’s burgeoning popularity has attracted attention from renowned brands such as Burger King, Devyani International Ltd., Restaurant Brands Asia Ltd., and Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd., which are setting up outlets. Major consumer goods companies like Britannia Industries Ltd., ITC Ltd., Godrej Consumers Products Ltd., Hindustan Unilever Ltd., and Sapphire Foods Ltd. are also focusing on Ayodhya as a potential market.
Aviation Industry Response
The aviation industry is not left behind, with IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air announcing direct flights to Ayodhya from various cities. Tour operators and travel platforms like IRCTC Ltd., MakeMyTrip, and EaseMyTrip are offering specialized tour packages to cater to the expected surge in visitors.
Ayodhya vs. Agra: Shifting Tourist Landscape
Intriguingly, as per data from Uttar Pradesh Tourism, Agra welcomed a total of 10,389,484 tourists in the year 2022. Among these, 10,010,849 were domestic tourist visits, and 378,635 were foreign tourist visits. If we extrapolate from this data, it becomes evident that Ayodhya, with its anticipated 50-100 million annual visitors, is on track to surpass Agra as the premier tourist hub of India. This shift not only underscores Ayodhya’s growing prominence but also signifies a potential shift in the landscape of India’s most sought-after tourist destinations. As Ayodhya embraces its newfound role, it stands poised to redefine the very essence of cultural and religious tourism in the country.
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