Maha Kumbh expected to generate Rs 12k-cr revenues, boost small businesses

The biggest conglomeration of people on Earth – The Maha Kumbh Mela – that started in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh on Monday, is expected to be a massive source of jobs and revenue generation for many small and medium businesses operating in UP and nearby states.

Airlines, hotels, tour operators and state are likely to witness substantial boom period in their economic activities and likely to contribute mammoth Rs 12,000-crore revenue in the state coffers, according to The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).

In a Forecast Paper on ‘Maha Kumbh Mela 2013- Possible Revenue Generation Resources  for Uttar Pradesh’ brought out by ASSOCHAM, it has been projected that the Maha Kumbh event alone will generate additional employment opportunities for over 6 lakhs workforce in sectors such as airlines and airports, hotels, tour operators, flyover besides medical and eco-tourism. The unorganised sectors activities would also gain the best out of Maha Kumbh event as its boom will accrue it the maximum economic gains.

The estimates of the Paper further reveal that during Maha Kumbh alone, about 1 million international foreign tourists mainly from Australia, UK, Canada, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, New Zealand, Mauritius, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka are expected to visit India for site seeing which include religious and eco-tourism.

Out of these 1 million, Uttar Pradesh tour operators attracts over 5 lakh foreign tourists for their attractive and different tour packages and each foreign tourist spends an estimated amount of Rs 25,000/- in tourist packages, state conveniently generate revenue of   Rs 1,250 crore (Rs 25,000 x 5 lakh). Uttar Pradesh Tourism organises varieties of tour packages to attract foreign and domestic tourists.

Hotel industry is aiming at 100 per cent occupancy rate for Maha Kumbh which currently is 70 per cent on an average and will witness a growth of 25 per cent during Maha Kumbh from current growth rate of 15 per cent including small, budget and luxury hotels.

“Apart from Allahabad, other nearby States like Rajasthan, Uttarkhand, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh will also be the major beneficiaries States in revenue generation where large number of foreign tourists are expected to explore tourists destinations”, said D S Rawat, Secretary General, ASSOCHAM.

Uttar Pradesh Tourism, privately owned hospitals, traders, railway and international airport are likely to earn whooping revenue of over Rs. 1,500 crore in Maha-Kumbh through increased inflow of foreign & domestic tourists by offering attractive tour packages and medical tourism facilities, according to ASSOCHAM paper.