- Expansion will focus on destinations such as Ayodhya, Puri, Shirdi, Varanasi, Amritsar, Tirupati, Haridwar, Katra-Vaishno Devi, and the Char Dham
- The company has been witnessing a consistent increase in spiritual tourism over the last couple of years
- There has been a staggering 350% increase in searches for Ayodhya on the OYO platform over the past year
- To cater to the influx of pilgrims in Ayodhya, OYO has launched 50 homestays, offering a total of approximately 1,000 rooms
- Ritesh Agarwal, Founder and Group CEO-OYO, will attend the consecration ceremony on January 22nd
Global hospitality technology company OYO has announced expansion plans in major spiritual hotspots across the country, fuelled by a surge in domestic travel and rising interest in spiritual tourism. OYO is gearing up to launch 400 properties in popular destinations like Ayodhya, Puri, Shirdi, Varanasi, Amritsar, Tirupati, Haridwar, Katra-Vaishno Devi, and the Char Dham route by the end of this year.
Ayodhya Searches Skyrocket
The move comes in response to a staggering 350% increase in searches for Ayodhya on the OYO platform over the past year, driven by the upcoming opening of the grand Ram Mandir on January 22nd, 2024. Ayodhya has consistently held the top position in searches on the OYO app over the past year. On New Year’s Eve, the city witnessed a 70% surge in OYO app users, surpassing popular leisure destinations such as Goa at 50% and Nainital at 60%.
To cater to the influx of pilgrims in Ayodhya, OYO has launched 50 homestays, offering a total of approximately 1,000 rooms. These properties are strategically situated near key landmarks, providing easy access to prominent religious sites and tourist attractions. To ensure smooth and timely operations, OYO has partnered with the Ayodhya Development Authority and the Uttar Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation.
Commenting on the expansion plans, Ritesh Agarwal, Founder and Group CEO-OYO said: “Spiritual tourism in India is on the precipice of a monumental surge, poised to be one of the biggest growth drivers of our industry in the coming five years. The opening of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya stands as a testament to this, and witnessing the excitement firsthand as I join in the grand ceremony will be truly humbling. This renewed fervour for spiritual journeys extends far beyond Ayodhya, with destinations like Puri, Shirdi, and Varanasi experiencing similar excitement. By offering comfortable and affordable accommodation options across these sacred sites, we aim to ensure every spiritual journey finds a welcoming haven, allowing pilgrims to fully immerse themselves in the transformative power of religion and spirituality.”
Comfortable Stay Just A Few Clicks Away
Customers can do hotel bookings through a simple three click booking process on OYO Hotels app. Customers choose OYO’s platform for many reasons, including accessibility to hotels at competitive prices, quality accommodation, ease of use of the app, personalization, and flexibility of the platform. Customers can also resolve their queries quickly with OYO’s 24*7 chatbot – Yo! Chat.
