ZENITH International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research _________ISSN 2231-5780 Vol.11 (7) July (2021), Impact Factor: 7.188 Online available at www.zenithresearch.org.in Email: [email protected] A TOURISM PROSPECT OF RELIGIOUS DESTINATION OF UTTAR PRADESH WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO NAIMISARANYA (NEEMSAAR) VINOD KUMAR PANDEY PROF. M K AGARWAL SUJAY VIKRAM SINGH Research Scholar Head of Department Senior Research Fellow Department of Economics Department of Economics Department of History of Art and Tourism Management University of Lucknow University of Lucknow Banaras Hindu University Abstract The revival of religious sites and its connection with tourism has created keen interest among researchers in recent times. The paper emphasizes the prospect of religious tourism in Naimisranaya as there is dearth of academic research in the selected destination. The study explores issues and suggested promotional strategies for development of tourism industry. Expert interview and secondary sources (news articles, magazine, and reports) were used as data collection source, primary data was collected using purposive sampling. The finding of study offers insights into prospects pioneering roles in key religious sites of Naimisaranya, to create initiatives in rebuilding religious tourism destination. Keywords:Chakrateertha, Naimisaranya,Religious Tourism, Spirituality,Tourism Prospects. Introduction The religious tourism refers to “patterns of travel where visitor fulfil religious needs by visiting places of religious importance and pilgrimages” (Stausberg,2011). Most of the world‟s great religious centres, past and present, have been destinations for pilgrimages - think of the Vatican, Mecca, Jerusalem, Bodh Gaya (where Buddha was enlightened), or Cahokia (the enormous Native American complex near St. Louis). Religion and pilgrimage tourism refers to all travel outside the usual environment for religious purposes, excluding travel for professional purposes (e.g. priest travelling for work). However, in countries where these ceremonies have a strong religious connotation, it may be more appropriate to classify them under the heading of Religion and Pilgrimages (UNWTO, 1995).Religious tourism is a type of heritage tourism that is motivated exclusively or strongly by religious reasons (Timothy & Olsen, 2006). It is one of the oldest forms of tourism and also commonly referred as faith tourism. From above definitions Religious tourism can be regarded as mix between A Monthly Double-Blind Peer Reviewed Refereed Open Access International Journal - Included in the International Serial Directories. Page | 42 ZENITH International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research _________ISSN 2231-5780 Vol.11 (7) July (2021), Impact Factor: 7.188 Online available at www.zenithresearch.org.in Email: [email protected] elements of religious attraction, general tourism motivation, and transportation.Religious Tourism is travelling to a religions places with not only an intention of seeking blessings from the god but also enjoy the pleasure of travelling, this would include art, culture, traditions and architecture. Religious tourism sometimes is connected with other types of tourism, due to its nature which gets combined with other forms of tourism especially social, group, holiday, cultural etc. (Collins-Kreiner 2018; Lois-González and Santos 2015; Olsen and Timothy 2006; Oviedo et al. 2014; Raj and Morpeth 2007; Raj et al. 2015; Rinschede 1992; Timothy and Boyd 2006). Religious tourism also referred as pilgrimage tourism sometimes. Whereas pilgrimage defined as “a journey resulting from religious causes, externally to a holy site, and internally for spiritual purposes and internal understanding” (Barber, 1993) what it supposes the journey of a religious devotee to a sacred religious site (Turner 1973; Turner and Turner,1978). Others, such as Collins-Kreiner (2010b) and Morinis (1992), define pilgrimage as a journey to a site that embodies the highly valued, the deeply meaningful, or a source of core identity for the traveler. These definitions clearly differentiate religious tourism from pilgrimage tourism as the motive, perception and experience of traveller visiting to religious tourism destination and pilgrim visiting to a religious destination for pilgrimage is different. Thus „Pilgrims‟ within the context of the definitions of pilgrimage can be established as existential form of tourism.Indians ranked Religious places high as their preferred tourist destinations according to the State of Nation Study conducted by Lokniti at the Delhi-based Centre for Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) in 2008. A study conducted by Ixigo, leading Indian travel marketplace, reveals that number of Indian travellers have increased for pilgrimage tourism to connect with their religious roots in popular pilgrimage places. The study also specifies the growth in hotel bookings at popular religious sites such as 60 per cent for Puri, 48 per cent for Varanasi, 34 per cent for Tirupati and 19 per cent growth for Shirdi. Travellers plan a short-stay of an average two days during their visit to religious destinations. In India close to 60 percent of domestic tourism is religion based. Religion and spirituality are big motivators to cause travel in India. It is due to the deep faith of followers in rituals, mythology and achieving enlightenment and salvation through practicing religion at these holy destinations. In the context of religious tourism in Uttar Pradesh, religiousness is a cornerstone of Indian history and culture where pilgrims of various sects visit their sacred destinations. These A Monthly Double-Blind Peer Reviewed Refereed Open Access International Journal - Included in the International Serial Directories. Page | 43 ZENITH International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research _________ISSN 2231-5780 Vol.11 (7) July (2021), Impact Factor: 7.188 Online available at www.zenithresearch.org.in Email: [email protected] religious places are iconic sites to visit their sacred destinations. These religious place are booming market for domestic and international tourism. Previous studies in religious tourism have covered concepts, benefits for destination. However, no studies have been conducted in Naimsaranya. As per data available on UP tourism website for domestic as well as foreign tourist‟s arrival at some of the popular religious sites in Uttar Pradesh, Naimisaranya received least no. of domestic as well as foreign tourists in comparison with other religious sites. Therefore, present study aims to document religious potential and opportunities for tourism infrastructure development in the destination. Objectives of the study To document religious potential of Naimisaranya as a tourism destination. To identify the problem for religious tourism at Naimisaranya. To offer prospective suggestion and solution for religious tourism at Naimisaranya. Literature Review Significance and Status of Religious Tourism in India As per Ministry of tourism website 59.3% foreign tourists out of 10035803 have visited India for the purpose of “leisure holiday and recreation” in 2017 and the total foreign earning exchange from tourism in India in 2017 have accounted for Rs. 177874 cr. as compared to 154146 cr. In 2016, registering a growth of 15.4 % in 2017 over 2016. India‟s travel and th tourism sector ranks 7 in the world in terms of its total contribution to the country‟s Gross domestic product (GDP), generating 14.1 trillion INR. It is forecasted to rise by 6.7% per th annum INR 28.5 trillion, 10.00 % of GDP in 2027. India ranked 25 in terms of International th tourists arrivals (ITA‟s) in 2018 with 5.05% share of total ITA‟s around the world and 7 in Asia and the Pacific. Indian economy received 28585 million US$ through foreign exchange earnings in 2018, which is 4.7% more than total FEE‟s in year 2017. India is known for its rich varied cultural and religious heritage worldwide. It has a huge potential for religious tourism as this land is bestowed with the evolution of many great religion like Hinduism, A Monthly Double-Blind Peer Reviewed Refereed Open Access International Journal - Included in the International Serial Directories. Page | 44 ZENITH International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research _________ISSN 2231-5780 Vol.11 (7) July (2021), Impact Factor: 7.188 Online available at www.zenithresearch.org.in Email: [email protected] Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism etc. and the people from worldwide visit India to feel this religious association and its deep rooted history and heritage. In a study conducted by Griffin&Raj (2017) to explore the importance of religious tourism and pilgrimage worldwidedescribe through the data collected from various sources for no. of tourists visiting the important religious places in the world, the list mentions 8 religious places from India. Kumbh mela was placed on top in the list with 100 million tourists for maximum number of visitors in 2012-13. The 49-day Kumbh Mela, 2019 visited by a significant number of 24.01 crore people in the Sangam city. This is the highest footfall the mela has ever witnessed in its history. Religious Significance and Importance of Naimisaranya in Hindu mythology Among all the religious destinations in Uttar Pradesh, Naimisaranya possess a strong religious belief, which upholds a connection with the beginning of all cultural and religious aspects of ancient Hindu mythology. It is situated in district Sitapur about 94 kms from the capital city Lucknow. It is located