Ayodhya emerges as “spiritual tourism” – A boom for the hospitality industry.
Ayodhya emerges as “spiritual tourism” – A boom for the hospitality industry.
Ahead of the consecration ceremony of Lord Ram in Ram Mandir on 22 January, Ayodhya sees higher searches than Goa, Nainital.
With many celebrities politicians, industrialists invited, the Hotel room rates cross ₹70,000, spiritual tourism gains momentum in India.
No doubt, Ayodhya after the inauguration of the Ram Temple, is poised to become one of the top tourist destinations in India with a significant increase in app users and bookings.
OYO’s Ritesh Aggarwal reveals that providing insight on how its popularity is growing every day, “Ayodhya sees a 70% jump in OYO app users vs Goa (50%) and Nainital (60%)”.
Occupancy rates rose to 100%
According to MakeMyTrip’s co-founder and group CEO Rajesh Magow, there is a 5x upside in searches year-on-year and there are 4x more bookings as compared to last year for Ayodhya.
Magow observes that as of now, room night bookings in Ayodhya are almost 10 percent of the top pilgrimage sites in the country, so the potential for growth is significant.
Citing trends, EaseMyTrip reveals that the consecration ceremony in Ayodhya is expecting an initial attendance of nearly 7,000 guests, projecting a daily footfall of three to five lakh visitors post-inauguration, presenting significant economic opportunities.
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Leading up to the inauguration, Ayodhya’s hotels are fully booked, enabling them to leverage increased pricing. Occupancy rates have risen from 80% to 100%, resulting in substantial price hikes, reaching up to ₹70,000 per night in select hotels.
Ayodhya is undergoing significant infrastructural growth
The data points to the growth potential of the tourism sector in the region. Currently, Ayodhya is undergoing significant infrastructural growth, planning for 73 new properties, including 40 currently under construction.
OYO’s plans encompass the addition of 50 hotels and homes with 1,000 rooms before the grand opening of the Ram Mandir, totalling 10,000 rooms. This accommodation setup includes 150 economy hotels, 30 dharmshalas, and 20 luxury hotels.
An OYO spokesperson says that
these new properties will be strategically located near Ayodhya’s prominent landmarks, ensuring convenient access for visitors exploring the city’s iconic attractions.
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Meanwhile, for the tourists in the mid to luxury category, the Radisson Hotel Group launched its property, Park Inn by Radisson Ayodhya.
KB Kachru, Radisson Hotel Group states that the property
can be easily accessed by car or taxi from Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, and Ayodhya Cantt Railway Station. It also has ample parking space for those travelling by car.
The hoteloffers proximity to notable landmarkssuch as the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, The Hanuman Garhi Temple, and Sita ki Rasoi, among others.
Several travel companies have cited that ‘spiritual tourism’ is gaining interest across segments of families, couples and millennials, in addition to the seniors’ segment.
Daniel D’Souza, President & Country Head – Holidays, SOTC Travel says that what’s noteworthy is that Young India is exploring “spiritual plus” tourism combining pilgrimage/spiritual with local food and cultural trails, also adventure experiences of the destination.
Meanwhile, OYO’s year-end booking data show, Puri secured the top spot as the most booked spiritual destination, with Amritsar, Varanasi, and Haridwar following suit.
OYO spokesperson further adds that predicting the growth potential in this segment, the OYO spokesperson, they believe the tourism industry could see a tenfold increase in tourism by 2024, making Ayodhya a global spiritual centre akin to Vatican City and Mecca.
News Edit K.V.Raman
