Ayodhya sees higher searches than Goa, Nainital; room rates cross ₹70,000: Is ‘spiritual tourism’ the next big trend?

livemint.com:

Ritesh Aggarwal has revealed that “Ayodhya saw a 70% jump in OYO app users vs Goa (50%) and Nainital (60%)". 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. “At the moment, room night bookings in Ayodhya are almost 10 percent of the top pilgrimage sites in the country, so the potential for growth is significant," Magow observed, as quoted by Moneycontrol.

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, EaseMyTrip said citing trends. “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." 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.