The conclave brought together more than 300 delegates from across the country
The PHDCCI’s 3rd Global Spiritual Tourism Conclave in Shirdi on June 12-13 concluded with policymakers, tourism authorities, temple trusts and industry stakeholders discussing preparations for Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2027-28 and strategies to strengthen Maharashtra’s spiritual tourism sector through integrated planning and destination development initiatives.
In a press statement, PHDCCI said the conclave brought together more than 300 delegates from across the country to deliberate on strengthening India’s spiritual tourism ecosystem and leveraging major pilgrimage destinations as engines of sustainable economic growth. The conclave, titled Roohmantic, was organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, Maharashtra Tourism, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) and Shree Saibaba Sansthan Trust, Shirdi.
The conclave was organised by the PHDCCI in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Maharashtra Tourism, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation and Shree Saibaba Sansthan Trust, Shirdi
The statement adds that inaugurating the conclave, Bhuvnesh Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, said spiritual tourism is part of India’s civilisational identity and Maharashtra has potential to emerge as a global spiritual tourism destination due to its religious sites.
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“The need of the hour is to connect these destinations through integrated circuits combining spirituality, heritage, culture and local experiences,” said Kumar.
Bhuvnesh Kumar
“India’s rapidly growing domestic tourism market presents immense opportunities for local communities, entrepreneurs, homestay operators and tourism stakeholders. Technology, ranging from virtual experiences and live-streamed religious ceremonies to seamless digital travel solutions, will play an increasingly important role in making spiritual tourism more accessible, inclusive and engaging. As visitor numbers continue to rise, sustainable destination management becomes critical. Cleanliness, crowd management, carrying-capacity planning and quality civic infrastructure must remain central to our development strategy. Supported by initiatives such as the Prashad scheme and significant improvements in national connectivity, India has built a strong foundation for tourism growth. The next phase will require greater collaboration between government and industry to create world-class spiritual tourism experiences while preserving the authenticity and sanctity of our sacred destinations,” Kumar added.
“MTDC will soon partner with Shri Sai Baba Sansthan Trust to further enhance visitor experiences and strengthen destination development initiatives in Shirdi. We are actively upgrading tourism infrastructure through public private partnerships and developing curated pilgrimage circuits that assure quality, reliability and seamless services for devotees. Spiritual destinations must evolve beyond darshan by creating meaningful experiences that encourage visitors to stay longer, engage with local culture and contribute to local economies,” said Neelesh R Gatne, Managing Director, MTDC.
Goraksha Gadilkar, Chief Executive Officer, Shree Saibaba Sansthan Trust said devotees from more than 61 countries visit Shirdi. He said the trust has expanded darshan facilities, accommodation and services for pilgrims, including large-scale food distribution. He called for greater coordination among stakeholders to improve pilgrim experience.
Mangesh Joshi, Director, Directorate of Tourism, Government of Maharashtra, said Simhastha planning focuses on long-term outcomes beyond the event.
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“Our objective is not only to successfully host millions of pilgrims during Simhastha, but also to create lasting tourism assets and experiences that continue to benefit local communities for decades. Shirdi, Nashik and Trimbakeshwar have the potential to emerge as an integrated spiritual tourism circuit of international significance,” said Joshi.
sessions covered Simhastha-linked tourism corridors, destination management, digital experiences, heritage conservation and wellness tourism
Abhay Shelke Patil, Vice President, Shirdi Nagar Parishad said civic infrastructure, cleanliness and community participation are essential for sustainable tourism growth.
Anil Parashar, Chair – Tourism & Hospitality Committee, PHDCCI said spiritual tourism can support economic growth.
“India’s spiritual heritage is among its greatest competitive advantages. The challenge before us is to transform pilgrimage movements into opportunities for destination development, livelihood generation, cultural preservation and visitor experience enhancement. Simhastha offers a unique opportunity to demonstrate how faith-based tourism can become a driver of inclusive economic growth,” said Parashar.
“The success of spiritual tourism lies in balancing faith, infrastructure, heritage conservation and visitor experience. Large religious events should be viewed as opportunities to create long-term tourism assets and destination value. The transformation witnessed in Uttar Pradesh demonstrates how strategic planning and stakeholder collaboration can create lasting impact,” says Amrit Abhijat, Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism, Culture and Religious Affairs, Government of Uttar Pradesh.
According to statement, sessions covered Simhastha-linked tourism corridors, destination management, digital experiences, heritage conservation and wellness tourism. Officials said Simhastha 2027–28 will be used as a framework for developing connected pilgrimage circuits across Maharashtra.