80% People Searched Ayodhya Over Hills And Beaches On New Year's Eve, Says OYO Founder

OYO founder, Ritesh Agarwal shared intriguing insights observed by his team on December 31, shedding light on a significant shift in travel preferences towards spiritual destinations. On the eve of New Year, traditionally a day marked by travel to popular tourist spots, Agarwal disclosed an 80 percent surge in users searching for stays in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.

In a social media post, Agarwal remarked, “Na hills, na beaches! 80 percent more users are searching for stays in Ayodhya today! Seeing one of the highest spikes.”

In another post, he went on to compare data from three diverse regions – Goa, representing beaches; Nainital, symbolising mountains; and Ayodhya, a city with strong religious and spiritual significance.

According to Agarwal, Ayodhya experienced a remarkable 70 percent increase in OYO app users, outpacing Nainital with 60 percent and Goa with 50 percent. His observations led him to declare, “Holy destinations are now India’s favourite destinations.” He predicted that spiritual tourism would emerge as one of the primary growth drivers in the Indian tourism industry over the next five years.

Agarwal’s revelation coincides with the upcoming grand consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to participate in the pran pratishtha, the consecration ceremony of the Ram Lalla idol.

Recent government initiatives align with the burgeoning interest in Ayodhya. Prime Minister Modi flagged off six Vande Bharat and two new Amrit Bharat trains, featuring advanced push-pull technology for increased speed and passenger comfort. The Vande Bharat trains, scheduled to commence operations on January 4, will connect Ayodhya to Delhi’s Anand Vihar station, covering key cities like Lucknow and Kanpur. Additionally, three Vande Bharat trains originating from Uttar Pradesh will enhance connectivity, including the Gorakhpur-Lucknow and New Delhi-Varanasi routes.

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department celebrated a remarkable milestone with an unprecedented 8,342.7 percent annual tourism growth in 2022. Ayodhya district recorded 2.36 crore domestic and 1,465 foreign visitors, a staggering increase from the previous year.

The official report revealed that about 30 lakh devotees visited Ayodhya on the 2022 New Year. As the city prepares for the future, Ayodhya Police geared up to manage an estimated 50 lakh visitors on the first day of 2023. The Ayodhya Development Authority anticipates a turnout of 7,000 individuals for the inauguration and estimates a daily influx of 3-5 lakh visitors for at least a month following the temple’s opening.