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Ayodhya room bookings witness 70% jump on New Year's Eve: OYO CEO

India Blooms News Service | @indiablooms | Jan 03, 2024, at 03:20 am

#Ayodhya #RamTemple #UttarPradesh #Tourism #SpiritualTourism

New Delhi: As the date of the much-awaited consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya is coming closer, the number of people wanting to visit the city has risen manifold after the inauguration of the Maharishi Valmiki International Airport and the revamped Ayodhya Dham railway station last Saturday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Just a day after the openings, OYO CEO Ritesh Agarwal reported a 70 percent increase in bookings on New Year's Eve in Ayodhya.

This jump was bigger than the bookings in top destinations like Goa and Nainital.

Agarwal forecast that spiritual tourism would emerge as a major catalyst for the growth of India's tourism industry in the coming five years.

"Holy destinations are now India's favourite destinations! Ayodhya saw a 70% jump in OYO app users vs Goa (50%) and Nainital (60%). Spiritual tourism will be one of the biggest growth drivers of the tourism industry in the next 5 years," Agarwal wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday.

Holy destinations are now India's favourite destinations!🙏

Ayodhya saw a 70% jump in OYO app users vs Goa (50%) and Nainital (60%)

Spiritual tourism will be one of the biggest growth drivers of the tourism industry in the next 5 years. #CheckIn2024
— Ritesh Agarwal (@riteshagar) December 31, 2023

Earlier in the day, Agarwal wrote in a post about how 80 percent users had looked up for accommodations in the city.

"Na hills, na beaches! 80% more users are searching for stays in Ayodhya today! Seeing one of the highest spikes," he wrote.

Na hills, na beaches!

80% more users are searching for stays in Ayodhya today! Seeing one of the highest spikes 👀 #CheckIn2024
— Ritesh Agarwal (@riteshagar) December 31, 2023

Following the opening of the airport, IndiGo's first Delhi to Ayodhya flight started.

The airport is located 15 km away from the city centre, and the first phase of its construction was completed at a total cost of over Rs 1450 crore.

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