In December 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Kashi Vishwanath corridor, connecting the Kashi Vishwanath temple to the adjacent Ganga river. The sprawling corridor, spanning over five lakh square feet and constructed at a cost of Rs 339 crore, houses 23 buildings, including a tourist facilitation centre, city museum and viewing gallery among others. Ten months later, in October 2022, Modi inaugurated the magnificent Mahakal Lok corridor in Ujjain, which was constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 860 crore.
These two corridors hold the story of the government’s push for spiritual tourism at a time when the tourism sector has not yet fully recovered from Covid-19 and continues to face challenges amidst global economic slowdown. Domestic tourists, especially the ones headed to religious places, seem to be making up for the lack of international tourist arrivals.
The government’s signature corridors are fast eliciting politico-religious interest among domestic tourists, while the government is happy to count the spurt in revenue at these sites. “Since the inauguration of the Kashi Vishwanath corridor, over 10 crore pilgrims have visited it, which is an accomplishment. Currently, the daily visitor count on weekends goes up to 2.5 lakh. On weekdays, the number stands somewhere around one lakh to 1.25 lakh,” Sunil Verma, CEO of the Kashi Vishwanath Trust, tells Outlook Business.
According to him, ever since the new corridor was inaugurated, the revenue of the Kashi Vishwanath temple has risen by 500%. "We had a revenue of Rs 20 crore in FY20, which went up to Rs 100 crore in FY22. We are expecting over Rs 200 crore in revenue in FY24," he adds.
Denne historien er fra October 2023-utgaven av Outlook Business.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra October 2023-utgaven av Outlook Business.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Adani After Hindenburg 2.0
In the days following Hindenburg's second shot at Gautam Adani, this time with Sebi chief Madhabi Puri Buch in the mix, Adani stocks held steady. But the trust of institutional investors remains to be regained
Where Are The Jobs?
India is staring at a crisis: the cohort of unemployed is growing. But the problem is deeper than mere lack of jobs. So Sitharaman's solutions in Budget 2024 will not be the silver bullet for the crisis
'STAINLESS STEEL SECTOR PROJECTED TO GROW AT 8-9%"
Stainless steel, known for its resistance to corrosion, recyclability and strength, has found its applications across sectors-from kitchen utensils to towering skyscrapers. Abhyuday Jindal, MD, Jindal Stainless discusses five drivers of growth in the stainless-steel sector of India
Harnessing Technology for India's Sporting Future: Insights from IITM
We wanted to bring the rigour of IIT Madras to revolutionise the field of sports as well. We wanted to use the core strengths of IIT Madras - high quality research and development as well as teaching.
Dream11: Driving Fan Engagement and Innovation
Dream11, founded by sports enthusiasts Harsh Jain and Bhavit Sheth, has grown into the world's largest fantasy sports platform by focusing on personalisation, innovation, and a deep understanding of user needs. In an exclusive interview with Outlook Business, Rahul Mirchandani, Chief Product Officer at Dream11 & Dream Sports, speaks about the company's unique approach to product development and user engagement. With over 220 million users, Dream11 emphasises personalisation, user engagement, and cutting-edge technology.
Sports Science Holds The Key to Olympic Wins
Director-in-charge and Head of National Centre for Sports Science and Research (NCSSR) Dr. Bibhu Kalyan Nayak speaks to Outlook on the importance of sports science in modern-day sports training.
Baller Athletik: Pioneering the Future of Sportswear Technology
How Baller Athletik is enhancing athletic performance and recovery with simple, yet powerful wearable tech.
Integrating Technology and Hands-on Training: The Future of Sports Education in India
The first-ever Sports Tech Conclave in India highlighted the importance of combining e-learning with practical experience to shape the future of sports education.
PASSING ON THE LEGACY
It is hard to achieve worklife balance if you are running a family business. For George Alexander Muthoot, managing director of Muthoot Finance, board meetings are the way to spend time with family
Pioneering a Sports Revolution: A Deep Dive into SFA's Vision and Impact on Indian Youth
In an exclusive conversation, the founders of Sports For All (SFA) share their journey of transforming grassroots sports in India. Rishikesh Joshi, a national-level swimmer, and his co-founder Vishwas Choksi, driven by their shared passion for sports, launched SFA with the vision of making sports accessible and enjoyable for every child in the country. From leveraging cutting-edge technology to ensuring inclusivity, SFA is not just nurturing future champions but also revolutionizing the sports landscape in India. This discussion delves into their inspiration, the rapid growth of SFA, and their ambitious goals for the future, shedding light on how they are shaping the next generation of Indian athletes.