FM Sitharaman bets big on religious tourism

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday shared the government’s plans to promote religious tourism in India, announcing development of several temple sites on the lines of Varanasi’s Kashi Vishwanath Temple Corridor. 

Presenting Union Budget 2024, Sitharaman said that by positioning India as a coveted destination for spiritual tourism, the government will create jobs, stimulate investments, and unlock economic opportunities across various sectors.

Aiming federal investments towards spiritual and cultural sites in Bihar, Sitharaman called attention to the Vishnupad Temple at Gaya and Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya, and talked about the “spiritual significance” of these temples. 

“Comprehensive development of Vishnupad Temple Corridor and Mahabodhi Temple Corridor will be supported, modeled on the successful Kashi Vishwanath Temple Corridor, to transform them into world class pilgrim and tourist destinations,” said Sitharaman. 

The city of Rajgir, in Bihar, was also mentioned in the tourism plan and Sitharaman disclosed that a comprehensive development plan for the city will also be underway, for structures like the ancient 20th Tirthankara Munisuvrata temple in the Jain Temple complex and the Saptharishi hot springs that form the sacred warm water Brahmakund. 

Also mentioned were the government’s plans to restore the “glorious stature” of the Nalanda University, while also aiding in the development of Nalanda as a tourist destination. 

The university, founded in the 5th century, was declared a World Heritage Site all the way back in 2009, and the Indian government, after passing a resolution to revive the lost University, even established a modern Nalanda University at its original site.

The government also talked about supporting the ancient temples and crafts in the state of Odisha, and promised to aid in their development, as well as that of the monuments, sanctuaries, landscapes, and beaches of the state. 

To promote cruise tourism in the country, Sitharaman announced tax relief benefits for foreign cruise operators, stating that the government will introduce a simpler tax regime for these companies that operate domestic cruise vessels in India.

In the interim budget presented earlier this year, the finance minister increased the allocation to the Union tourism ministry to ₹2,449 crore from ₹2,400 crore in 2023-24.