Kumbh Mela will spark massive job, income surge: ASSOCHAM
Airlines, hotels, tour operators and Uttar Pradesh in general are likely to reap a windfall during the Maha Kumbh Mela in the state with the government likely to see its coffers swelling by Rs 12,000 crore, according to an industry body.
ASSOCHAM's paper 'Maha Kumbh Mela 2013- Possible Revenue Generation Resources for Uttar Pradesh' says that the pilgrimage would generate additional employment opportunities for over six lakh workers in sectors spanning airlines and airports, hotels, tours, infrastructure and also trigger a surge in medical and eco-tourism.
The unorganised sector also stands to gain substantially from the Maha Kumbh, says the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).
A large number of foreign tourists are expected to attend the Kumbh Mela with ASSOCHAM Secretary General DS Rawat that visitors would be arriving from as far apart as Australia, UK, Canada, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, New Zealand, Mauritius, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.
The hospitality industry in the region is targeting 100 per cent occupancy across the board in small, budget and luxury hotels during the Maha Kumbh.
Apart from UP, states like Rajasthan (Jaipur, Jabalpur, Udaipur, Bhilwara, Kota), Uttarkhand (Nainital, Mussoorie, Aulli, Dehradun, Haridwar, Ranikhet, Almora), Punjab (Amrtisar, Ludhiana) and Himachal Pradesh (Shimla, Kufri, Manali, Panchkula), too, will majorly benefit from the enhanced revenue generation with a large number of foreign tourists expected to explore other destinations," Rawat said.
Uttar Pradesh Tourism and the Railways are likely to share in a revenue bonanza of a whopping Rs 1,500 crore along
