Assessment of Factors Responsible for Promoting Religious Tourism in the Himalayan Region: Special Reference to Dev Bhoomi, Uttarakhand

1. Introduction

Tourism industry is one of the most prominent sectors in the state of Uttarakhand providing huge economic benefits including better employment opportunity, improving the standard of living and better infrastructure development. Religious tourism is one the oldest type of tourism that prevails in Himalayan region. Dev Bhoomi, Uttarakhand in the Himalayas is very much popular in the world for religious tourism. Uttarakhand is situated in the low Himalayan Mountain range. Uttarakhand state borders Tibet (China) in the North, Nepal in the East, Himachal Pradesh in the North Wet and West and Uttar Pradesh in the South. Uttarakhand is one of the fastest developing states of India. Religious tourists visit shrines, attends religious fairs and festivals and attends various rituals which is a very common practice among all. Religious tourism provides employment opportunities and also livelihood to several local people. In today’s arena travel business is contributing generously to a country’s GDP particularly for developing countries like India. Religious tourism destinations operate as a dynamic complex system along with independent element and many factors that are responsible for promotion and development of tourism particularly in Uttarakhand. Religious tourism is considered as powerful tool for socio-economic development. Uttarakhand is very much popular and famous for Char-Dham Yatra among religious tourists. Badrinath, Yamunatri, Kedarnath and Gangotri are major four pilgrimage sites of Uttarakhand which are most sought-after destinations among religious tourists. Badrinath is the abode of Lord Vishnu and is one of the best destinations not only among religious tourists but also among all the tourists. Kedarnath is the abode of Lord Shiva and is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga and only one in Uttarakhand. Yamunatri is the place from where sacred river Yamuna originates. Gangotri is the origin point from where the sacred river Ganga flows. Every religious tourist visit Uttarakhand never misses the Char Dham Yatra. To encourage, attract and promote more religious tourism in the state, Government of Uttarakhand has taken several important steps in terms of financial assistance or aid and subsidies. The state is having a strong infrastructure network which is helping to attract more and more religious tourists. It has been observed that more religious tourists are visiting Uttarakhand comparable to any other form of tourism like eco-tourism, agri-tourism and adventure tourism. The state of Uttarakhand is having extensive road and rail network along with two airports to support various kinds of tourism in the state. Foreign direct investment (FDI) to the state of Uttarakhand is steadily increasing from year to year. Mainly the common Annul Yatra time generally starts from the month of April and completes in the month of October when a large number of religious tourists visit the state of Uttarakhand. Especially during winter season, major tourists visit the Garhwal Himalaya for river-rafting, trekking and mountaineering. This is the main reason of blooming of hotels, eateries, Dhabas and way side amenity centers along the highways. It has been found out that there are ample services delivery centres, located within 280 km between Rishikesh and Badrinath. Religious tourism manifests ownership or belongingness and also generates employment as well as income and the same goes well with the local people of the Garhwal Himalaya.

Religious tourism has multiple impacts on local economy as it increases employment opportunities and living standard of the people and thus, there is an increase in the national income (Sati & Kumar 2004). Tourism is a major source of income in the Uttarakhand region as it earns between 15 - 20 per cent of its revenue from taxes and levies imposed on pilgrims each year. Presently in India, tourism industry is the second-largest source of foreign currency behind the gem and jewelry sector. It has been observed that the villages that are located on the major routes to the high shrine pilgrimage centers are now fully dependent on the income from the religious tourists.