Haunted, but hardly explored: India's untapped ghost-tourism economy

NewsIndia NewsHaunted, but hardly explored: India's untapped ghost-tourism economy Haunted, but hardly explored: India's untapped ghost-tourism economy India’s haunted destinations offer an untapped tourism opportunity, with paranormal experiences yet to become a mainstream travel attraction.

(AI-generated image) India's ghosts have a customer service problem.There is almost an abundance of local places which have a reputation of being haunted in each and every state.There are ghost villages where nobody is quite sure why everyone left.

Forts with stories of spirits walking through them at night. Abandoned cemeteries as old as the world wars, forgotten ‘havelis’ and stretches of forest that have acquired a mythology of their own.Out of all these only a few have become tourist attractions; others survive largely through word of mouth, local lore and the occasional paranormal investigation.India's haunted places do have an audience but it somehow lacks a concrete machinery that could make ‘dark’ tourism and ‘spectral’ cities central factions of an ever growing tourist economy.The business of the macabre The tourism industry has a name for this particular appetite for the unsettling: dark tourism.

The term broadly describes travel to places associated with death, tragedy, violence and suffering.Ghost tours, haunted heritage walks and visits to places associated with paranormal folklore occupy a more specialised corner of this spectrum, where history, local legend and the promise of an eerie experience often intersect.

It is an appetite that the tourism industry has increasingly tried to package. Turning a city&#x27;s darker history into something you can book online. And its most ideal form, the ticket buys you a completely immersive tour full of storytelling with a slight hope of encountering your first paranormal spirit.<div data-pos="0" class="id-r-component iIpbx undefined The commercial potential of dark tourism is reflected in the market estimates.

Grand View Research valued the global dark tourism market at $31.8 billion in 2023 and projects it to reach $34.2 billion in 2026 and $38.6 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 2.9%. MR puts the market at $32 billion in 2025, forecasting it to reach $46.8 billion by 2036.The market for ghost tourism as a separate entity is estimated to be worth $2.9 billion in 2025 and projects it to grow to $5.7 billion by 2034, at a CAGR of 7.8%, by Dataintelo.

Its estimate includes guided ghost walks, cemetery and underground tours, paranormal investigations, haunted stays and virtual experiences.For India, the more immediate question may be less about capturing a share of a global market and more about whether these scattered attractions can be turned into viable profitable local experiences.

With a history as rich as ours, the ghosts are not in short supply. The challenge is to turn them into profitable experiences that people can discover, book and pay for, while ensuring that the tragedy is respected and the communities living alongside these places have a stake in the business.From a haunted reputation to a tourism product Kuldhara, a site that Rajasthan Tourism itself promotes as a “ghost village shrouded in mystery”, is a good starting point.

The official government site describes its history as a prosperous settlement abandoned in the early 19th century. The account recounts the popular legend involving the village headman&#x27;s daughter and the powerful minister Salim Singh, while also identifying the ruins as a protected monument under the state archaeology department.The village, around 17km from Jaisalmer, already has the ingredients of a tourism attraction, but having a story and having a well-managed visitor experience are two different things.There are multiple accounts of litter around the site, including discarded plastic and food packaging.

How can an atmosphere feel haunted when the landscape is strewn with chips and tobacco packets?And cleanliness isn’t the only issue. Talking to two people who visited the site, the common experience has been mismanaged and under researched tour which leaves most customers underwhelmed at the end of the day.<div data-pos="0" class="id-r-component iIpbx undefined Bhangarh, in Alwar district, is often described as one of India&#x27;s most haunted places.

Rajasthan Tourism itself recounts the two popular legends attached to the site: one involving the ascetic Baba Balu Nath, whose warning about the shadow of the fort was allegedly ignored, and another about a sorcerer whose failed attempt to enchant Princess Ratnavati supposedly led him to curse the town.The legends have become part of the destination&#x27;s appeal, drawing visitors to its ruined temples, palaces and deserted marketplace.

The restriction on entry before sunrise and after sunset, imposed at the site, has only added to its mystique. But tourists who visit the site have also called it unorganised, speaking to TOI they noted that the guide also was not entirely accurate about the historical aspects of the site and the site itself needed to have better management.The business of making a place come alive There are already attempts to package India&#x27;s haunted heritage into guided experiences.

Delhi Tourism lists Haunted Heritage Walks at Malcha Mahal and Feroz Shah Kotla Monument, each lasting around 90 minutes and available on weekends on group demand. The official booking page lists a minimum group size of six and a tariff of Rs 800 plus GST per person.The Ministry of Tourism&#x27;s Utsav portal has also listed a Haunted Walk at Bhuli Bhatiyari, organised by Delhi-based Enroute Indian History.

The listing describes a guided heritage walk through the old hunting lodge, combining its history with the legends associated with the site.Enroute Indian History, which has been conducting the experience for around two to three years, says the walks attract a good number of bookings and are designed for...