Beyond Pilgrimage: Evaluating Hospitality Facilities around the Takht Sri Damdama Sahib

Abstract

In developing economies like India, religious tourism plays a pivotal role in regional economic development. This case study focuses on understanding the ecosystem of hospitality around the Takht Damdama Sahib situated at Talwandi Sabo village in Bathinda district of Punjab, which is a place of attraction for visitors. The case study examined the hospitality facilities, including capacity, pricing, and booking mechanism and other facilities, of 10 hotels situated near Talwandi Sabo village. The findings indicated the dominance of budget and mid-range hotels with wide availability of basic amenities but limited workforce, poor standardisation of services, and lack of digital platforms for booking as major challenges to be addressed. This case study will provide valuable insights regarding the sustainability of hosptality sector around the pilgrimages.