| Abstract: | This study examines the role of pilgrimage tourism in catalyzing sustainable regional development through analysis of India’s mega religious infrastructure projects, with particular focus on the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and projects under the PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive) scheme. Using comprehensive secondary data from government sources, industry reports, and academic publications (2014–2024), this research quantifies the economic, social, and infrastructural impacts of religious tourism investments. Key findings reveal that India’s religious tourism market expanded from USD 8.6 billion (2021) to USD 202.85 billion (2024), with domestic religious tourists increasing from 677 million (2021) to 1,433 million (2022). The Ram Mandir project alone attracted 137.7 million visitors in 2024, generating an estimated Rs. 18,000 crores annually by 2028. Statistical analysis demonstrates strong positive correlations between religious infrastructure investment and regional GDP growth (r = 0.84, p < 0.01), employment generation (r = 0.79, p < 0.01), and tourism multiplier effects averaging 2.8. The PRASHAD scheme sanctioned 46 projects worth Rs. 1,632 crores across 26 states, creating direct and indirect employment for approximately 300,000 people. Regression analysis indicates that every Rs. 100 crore investment in religious infrastructure generates Rs. 280 crores in regional economic output. However, challenges include project implementation delays (less than 50% completion rate within planned timelines), environmental sustainability concerns, and unequal benefit distribution. The research concludes that pilgrimage tourism, when coupled with strategic infrastructure development and sustainability frameworks, serves as an effective catalyst for regional development, offering replicable models for developing economies seeking to leverage cultural and religious assets for economic transformation. |
| Keywords: | Pilgrimage tourism, religious infrastructure, sustainable development, PRASHAD scheme, Ram Mandir, tourism multiplier, regional development, India. |
