The Maharashtra government may likely to generate over Rs. 10,000 crores (approx) revenues in its coffers due to Kumbh Mela, scheduled after 12 years in Nashik, reveals an ASSOCHAM latest assessment.
The Maha Kumbh, starting from 14 July in Nasikh will generate additional employment opportunities for over 4.5 lakhs workforce in sectors such as airlines & airports, hotels, tour operators, medical & eco-tourism etc., according to The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).
A Forecast Paper ‘Maha Kumbh Mela 2015: Revenue Generation Resources for Maharashtra’ released by ASSOCHAM, projected that airlines, hotels, tour operators etc are likely to witness a boom period. ASSOCHAM further said that lakhs of pilgrims who come for the Kumbh Mela may also visit nearby places like Shirdi, Shani-Shingnapur, Bhimashankar and other locations, adds the ASSOCHAM paper.
“The Maha Kumbh will generate an additional employment opportunities for over 4.5 lakh people in direct and indirect sectors such as airlines, hotels, tour companies, medical and eco-tourism. The unorganised sector, too, will witness maximum economic gains during the period,” said Mr. D S Rawat, Secretary General ASSOCHAM while releasing the paper today.
As per the report, the hotel industry is aiming at 100% occupancy rate for Kumbh that is currently 55-60% on an average, the paper said.
The paper further revealed that during Kumbh about 10-12 million foreign and domestic pilgrims are expected to visit for the 2015 Kumbh Mela, scheduled after 12 years in the small temple towns of Nashik (Trimbakeshwar). During the last Kumbh Mela in Nashik in 2003, around six million people from all over the world took part.
The paper further reveals, Australia, UK, Canada, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, New Zealand, Mauritius, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka are the main countries from where pilgrims are expected for the 2015 Kumbh Mela..
Domestic tourists are expected from the state Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Karnataka, etc, adds the paper. Apart from Maharashtra, other states like Gujarat, Delhi, Rajasthan and Himachal will also be the major beneficiary states in terms of revenue generation where large number of foreign tourists are expected to visit,” it added.
The Kumbh Mela is scheduled between July 14-Sep 25, 2015, with the Shahi Snaan on Aug 29, Sep 13 and Sep 25. Nashik-Trimbakeshwar is among the four places in India — along with Ujjain, Allahabad and Haridwar — where the Kumbh Mela is held every 12 years.
The Maha-Kumbh will generate so much of direct and indirect activities in almost every key segment that touches masses with large number of beneficiary, the fruits of which hopefully benefit the masses of Madhya Pradesh, said Mr. Rawat.