Maha Kumbh: A big opportunity for SMEs

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SME Times News Bureau | 14 Jan, 2013
Maha Kumbh Mela, the world's biggest religious gathering in Allahabad that begins on Monday, is expected to flow Rs 12000 crore in terms of state government's revenue and will bring boom to various entrepreneurs especially the small and medium enterprises (SMEs), creating over 6 lakh jobs, said an industry body on Saturday.

A Forecast Paper on 'Maha Kumbh Mela 2013 - Possible Revenue Generation Resources for Uttar Pradesh' brought out by ASSOCHAM on Saturday, projected that the Maha Kumbh event alone will generate additional employment opportunities for over 6 lakhs workforce in sectors such as airlines & airports, hotels, tour operators, flyover besides medical & eco-tourism.

The unorganised sectors activities (SMEs) would also gain the best out of Maha-Kumbh event as its boom will accrue it the maximum economic gains, it said.

The estimates of the Paper further reveal that during Maha Kumbh alone, about 1 million international foreign tourists are expected to visit India for site seeing which include religious, eco-tourism. In Maha Kumbh, tourist arrivals to the extent of over 250 million from 30 million in 2001 to take a holy dip.

According to ASSOCHAM Secretary General, D S Rawat, Australia, UK, Canada, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, New Zealand, Mauritius, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka will be the main countries from where tourists arrivals are expected to attend the Maha Kumbh.

Hotel industry is aiming at 100 percent occupancy rate for Maha-Kumbh which currently is 70 percent on an average and will witness a growth of 25 percent during Maha-Khubh from current growth rate of 15 percent including small, budget and luxury hotels. National and international media will arrive in large numbers. 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.

"Apart from Allahabad, other nearby States like Rajasthan (Jaipur, Jabalpur, Udaipur, Bhilwara, Kota etc), Uttarkhand (Nainital, Musoorie, Aulli, Dehradun, Haridwar, Ranikhet, Almora), U.P. (Agra, Lucknow) Punjab (Amrtisar, Chandigarh, Ludhaiana), Himachal Pradesh (Shimla, Kufri, Manali, Panchkula) will also be the major beneficiaries States in revenue generation where large number of foreign tourists are expected to explore tourists destinations," said Rawat.

The Paper further projected that Airlines industry particularly national and international Airlines will do much better, feels the Chamber Secretary General.

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.

"The Maha-Kumbh will generate so much of direct and indirect activities in almost every key segment that touches masses with large number of beneficiary, the fruits of which hopefully benefit the masses of Uttar Pradesh," said Rawat.

Interestingly, the ASSOCHAM estimates that the overall business during the stretch of two months of Kumbh could touch anything between Rs. 12,000 to 15,000 crore and contribute revenues in the state coffers, said Rawat. Kumbh will not just reap short time benefits but it will also have a long time benefit.

Rawat also said security of women would be given priority and besides deploying a large number of female constables, special arrangements will be made to check incidents such as eve-teasing.

According to ASSOCHAM, over 1 million foreign tourists will explore popular tourist destinations during Kumbh and the lead countries will include Australia, UK, Canada, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, New Zealand, Mauritius, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka etc. 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 which can attract foreign & domestic tourists, it said.