The Kumbh Mela, the biggest religious congregation in Allahabad that begins on Monday, is expected to bring in an estimated `12,000 crores for the Uttar Pradesh government.
According to a forecast research paper released by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham), the event is also expected to generate additional employment opportunities for over six lakh workers in various sectors including airlines and airports, hotels and tours. A surge in medical and eco-tourism is also expected during the event.
Mr D.S. Rawat, Assocham secretary general, is of view that the Kumbh Mela is expected to attract a large number of foreign tourists from countries like 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 and almost all hotels have hiked their tariffs for the season.
Apart from UP, states like Rajasthan (Jaipur, Jabalpur, Udaipur, Bhilwara, Kota), Uttarakhand (Nainital, Mussoorie, Auli, Dehradun, Haridwar, Ranikhet, Almora), Punjab (Amrtisar, Ludhiana) and Himachal Pradesh (Shimla, Kufri, Manali, Panchkula),are also expected to benefit form the Kumbh rush since a large number of tourists are bound to explore other tourist destinations after the pilgrimage. The duration of foreign tourists’ stay in India will be 20-30 days. These are likely to employ over 2.5 lakh skilled and unskilled workforce.
According to the sector-wise break-up devised by Assocham, the Kumbh Mela is estimated to generate about 2.5 lakh jobs in the hotel industry. These include the temporary and make shift eateries that will cater to the Kumbh rush.
Airlines and airports jobs will be around 1.5 lakhs — the number of chartered flights for Kumbh is also expected to be much more than expected.
Tour operators are likely to generate about 45,000 jobs while the eco-tourism and medical tourism sectors will need an additional 50,000 employees in various grades.
Nearly 85,000 skilled and unskilled workers have been employed for construction/ renovation sectors and 55,000 new jobs have been added in the unorganised sector that includes tour guides, taxi drivers, interpreters, volunteers.
The total employment generation potential of the festival stands at a massive 6.35 lakh jobs.
Mr Rawat further said that the Kumbh will generate much direct and indirect business activities during the next two months , which will ultimately benefit the state.