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Radisson Hotel Group is expanding its presence in India's rapidly evolving spiritual tourism circuit with new hotel openings planned in Shirdi, Puri, Indore and Ujjain. The expansion reflects a strategic focus on emerging pilgrimage destinations that are witnessing rising domestic travel demand, supported by infrastructure upgrades and government-led faith tourism initiatives. Religious tourism remains a key driver of India's hospitality sector, with the Ministry of Tourism estimating over 1,439 million religious visits in 2022, generating revenue of around INR 1.34 trillion. Cities such as Ujjain, which attracted more than 52.8 million visitors in 2023, along with Puri, Shirdi and Indore, continue to record steady footfalls. Radisson's move positions it early in markets where demand is expected to deepen, creating long-term opportunities for organised hospitality growth.
Radisson Hotel Group has announced plans to expand its hotel portfolio across India's growing spiritual tourism circuit, with new properties set to open in Shirdi, Puri, Indore and Ujjain. The move underscores the company's strategy of establishing an early presence in pilgrimage-driven destinations that are experiencing rising visitor volumes and increasing demand for organised accommodation. Advertisement
India's religious tourism segment continues to play a central role in domestic travel, supported by large-scale infrastructure investments and policy initiatives aimed at promoting faith-based destinations. According to data from the Ministry of Tourism, religious tourism accounted for more than 1,439 million visits in 2022, generating approximately INR 1.34 trillion in revenue. The scale of this segment highlights its resilience and long-term relevance within the country's tourism and hospitality ecosystem.
Several pilgrimage cities have seen sustained growth in visitor numbers over recent years. Ujjain has emerged as one of the country's most significant religious destinations, recording over 52.8 million visitors in 2023. Other established centres such as Puri and Shirdi continue to attract consistent footfalls, while cities like Indore have benefited from improved connectivity, urban infrastructure upgrades and broader regional development initiatives.
Industry observers note that spiritual tourism is expected to maintain its upward trajectory, driven by domestic travel demand, improved transport networks and increasing accommodation requirements across key pilgrimage corridors. The sector is also viewed as an important contributor to local economies, supporting employment generation across hospitality, transport and allied services.
Radisson Hotel Group has indicated that its expansion into these destinations is aligned with the government's broader vision for sustainable, inclusive and infrastructure-led tourism development. The company sees its role not merely as adding hotel inventory, but as contributing to the maturation of emerging spiritual hubs by providing consistent service standards and professionally managed accommodation.
With faith-led travel becoming increasingly organised and experience-driven, hospitality players are sharpening their focus on cities that combine high visitor volumes with improving civic infrastructure. Radisson's planned additions in Shirdi, Puri, Indore and Ujjain place the group among the early movers seeking to capitalise on this structural shift in India's tourism landscape, as spiritual travel continues to evolve from seasonal pilgrimage into a year-round economic driver.
Source - PTI
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