Hoteliers of cities located in the vicinity of Dera Baba Nanak are all set to rake in a bonanza even as thousands of tourists are all set to arrive at the Integrated Check Post (ICP) when the corridor will be thrown open to the public on November 9.

Reasons for Downfall of Hospitality Industry

• Intense competition,
• High taxes, and
• Low occupancy rates, etc. had sounded the death knell of the hotel industry in the region.

?Benefits of Religious Tourism

• ?More than 15,000 pilgrims will start arriving every day at the ICP from all parts of the country and even abroad.
• Not only Dera Baba Nanak town, but the entire border district of Gurdaspur will benefit from religious tourism. Gurdaspur and Batala will cater to devotees arriving from J&K and Himachal Pradesh.
• Amritsar, which has Golden temple, Durgiana temple, an airport and a railway junction, will be the main beneficiary as a majority of the pilgrims will make a stop-over in the city before proceeding to Kartarpur from the ICP through the corridor.
• Once connectivity to the corridor has been established, premium hospitality is always going to be just one step behind. Spiritual destinations like Kartarpur will be in high demand throughout the year. Political situations will have a bare minimal bearing on visitors.
• Also, it will boost up the infrastructure. All four main roads leading from Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Batala and Dera Baba Nanak to the ICP are on the verge of completion. These new highways will act as a catalyst for the hospitality industry to set up businesses near the ICP. The only thing is that they will have to get approval from the Dera Baba Nanak Developmental Authority.
• If hoteliers don’t establish actual businesses, they can open offices near the ICP where transport, discounts, incentives and other freebies can be offered.

Kartarpur is being viewed as a place where one can encounter, see and experience the divine. Like thousands pay obeisance at the Golden Temple every day, the Kartarpur shrine too is expected to draw a lot of devotees. And hotels are the first thing that are needed if we have to cater to them. Also, this will act as a boon for Punjab's overall economic growth.