- OYO has been witnessing a consistent increase in spiritual tourism over the last couple of years, with Puri consistently ranking among the top destinations for spiritual and religious travel.
- The company recently announced its plans to open 400 hotels and homestays in 2024 across major religious hotspots in India, with the first 65 recently inaugurated in Ayodhya.
- OYO has partnered with Odisha Skill Development Authority (OSDA) to open these homestays and equip locals with the necessary skills and training to successfully manage homestays, fostering entrepreneurship and creating an additional income source.
- These homestays will not only offer travellers a unique and authentic experience but will also contribute significantly to the economic growth of rural communities, particularly among the youth in Odisha.
Global hospitality technology company OYO is all set to launch 50 homestays in Odisha, specifically in Puri and nearby areas, to capitalise on the surge in religious travel. This move comes shortly after the company announced its plans to open 400 hotels and homestays across major religious hotspots in India, with the first 65 recently inaugurated in Ayodhya.
Spiritual Travel Boom
OYO has been witnessing a consistent increase in spiritual tourism over the last couple of years, with Puri consistently ranking among the top destinations for spiritual and religious travel. As per Travelopedia 2023, OYO’s year-end annual travel trends index, Puri secured the top spot as the most booked spiritual and pilgrimage destination, followed by Amritsar, Varanasi, and Haridwar. Additionally, there has been consistent 18% week-on-week increase in searches for Puri on OYO app since January 2024.
Empowering Rural Communities and Boosting Tourism
The company has partnered with Odisha Skill Development Authority (OSDA) to open these homestays and equip locals with the necessary skills and training to successfully manage homestays, fostering entrepreneurship and creating an additional income source. The first homestay under this project was inaugurated in Puri. OYO plans to open these homestays within the next year across destinations like Puri, Konark, Pipli, Raghurajpur, and others, providing a broader range of accommodation options for tourists. These homestays will be strategically located near key landmarks, ensuring easy access to prominent religious sites and tourist attractions.
These homestays will not only offer travellers a unique and authentic experience but will also contribute significantly to the economic growth of rural communities, particularly among the youth in Odisha. This project is part of OYO’s ongoing commitment to empowering local communities and supporting the rural economy through tourism development. The company has successfully launched similar homestay programs in collaboration with local authorities in Ayodhya, Jammu & Kashmir, and Ekta Nagar. This core principle remains a driving force for OYO’s operations across India.
“India is witnessing a surge in religious tourism, and I believe this trend will be a significant driver of growth in the hospitality sector for the next five years. Expanding our presence in key religious hotspots like Puri aligns perfectly with this vision. Opening homestays here, after our successful launch in Ayodhya, is particularly gratifying. Puri holds immense spiritual significance for me, and I’m committed to ensuring both pilgrims and leisure travellers have access to high-quality accommodation. This initiative goes beyond just business; it’s about giving back to my home state and empowering local communities to benefit from the tourism boom.”, said Ritesh Agarwal, Founder and Group CEO, OYO.
A 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.
