3 Issues and Challenges with Religious Tourism in India

Jama Masjid By Nimitnigam - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0

While it is heartening to note that the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India is taking some concrete steps to promote and develop Religious Tourism in India, the sector is beset with a host of problems that make it an ongoing challenge. Some of the top issues include:

3. Lack of a uniform code of religious etiquette

This is a crying need in a country that prides itself on its secular credentials. While many individuals are aware of the requirements and etiquette regarding their own religions, the same may not be the case with other religions. Also, considering that there is no centralized authority, opinions, half-truths and outright lies may easily present themselves as mandatory requirements. If this is the case with citizens of our country, you can very well imagine how foreigners would have difficulty!

It would help is the Government or an executive body comprising representatives from all religions could put together a document detailing the religious etiquette that visitors need to observe at various locations. This will ensure that religious sentiments of various communities are not played with and will help prevent misunderstandings.

2. Infrastructure… or the lack of it!

Infrastructure is a major concern with not only religious tourism, but with tourism development as a whole in India. First and foremost is the lack of suitable transportation. Most religious destinations have seasonality-based traffic. This tends to put a tremendous strain on the available transport options during peak season. To compound the misery, there are several religious destinations which don’t have last-mile connectivity. A part of the pilgrimage can be done through trains and buses, while a considerable portion (especially the case with places in hilly locations) will require foot or animal-based travel options. These need to be streamlined with some analytical demand-supply based planning.

Kumbh Mela  By Prateek1961 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0

Similarly there is a dearth of available accommodation. The little that exists suffers from hygiene and cleanliness issues, lack of proper waste management, lack of qualified service staff etc. All these factors come together to make typical religious travel a veritable trial-by-fire for most pilgrims. Unless these issues are sorted, the sector cannot grow and develop to its full potential.

1. Lack of transparency and credibility

Probably the number one challenge with religious tourism in India is the lack of credibility of religious trusts. Most religious trusts in India literally and figuratively operate beyond the scope of rule of law. They answer to their own self-appointed boards, determine their own fee structures, allocate their own concessions and licenses and even don’t declare the donations and assets held in a transparent manner.

Not only does this breed corruption, but given the global concerns about money laundering and financing terrorist operations, could prove to be a massive hole in our National Security apparatus! The Government of India should take concrete measures to ensure that everything connected with organizations involved in religious tourism is above board and that pilgrims can concentrate on their piety and the pilgrimage experience rather than worry about being fleeced.

While some recent developments have indicated that the Ministry is willing and able to take concrete steps to resolve these challenges, it will take time, concerted effort and willingness among all participants to actually make things better.