Skift Take
Religious tourism has been experiencing a resurgence in India, and Oyo recognizes the importance of securing the first-mover advantage in this growing trend.
The Skift India Newsletter is your go-to platform for all news related to travel, tourism, airlines, and hospitality in India.
IPO-bound hospitality and travel technology company Oyo has announced that it would open around 400 properties in popular spiritual destinations by year end.
The expansion will focus on destinations such as Ayodhya, Puri, Shirdi, Varanasi, Amritsar, Tirupati, Haridwar, Katra-Vaishno Devi, and the Char Dham route.
Oyo reported witnessing a staggering 350% increase in searches for Ayodhya, in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh over the past year, driven by the upcoming opening of the grand Ram Mandir on January 22.
In April last year, Oyo had announced its plans to add 50 properties in Ayodhya. To cater to the influx of pilgrims in Ayodhya, OYO has launched 50 homestays, offering a total of approximately 1,000 rooms, a release from the company stated.
Oyo has also partnered with the Ayodhya Development Authority and the Uttar Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation for smooth operations.
Founder and Group CEO Ritesh Aggarwal had earlier tweeted that on New Year's Eve, Ayodhya witnessed a 70% surge in search