Hospitality and travel-tech firm OYO on March 14 (Thursday) announced its plans to establish 50 homestays in Odisha, specifically in Puri and nearby areas, in the upcoming year with an aim to make profit after watching a surge in religious tourism.
The company, which has recently inaugurated 65 homestays in Ayodhya, had stated that it plans to open 400 hotels and homestays across major religious hotspots in India.
“The company has partnered with Odisha Skill Development Authority (OSDA) to open these homestays and equip locals with the necessary skills and training to successfully manage homestays, fostering entrepreneurship and creating an additional income source,” OYO said in a statement. The first homestay under this project was recently inaugurated in Puri, OYO said, adding that it decided to open these homestays within the next year across popular destinations like Raghurajpur, Konark, Pipli and others.
“India is witnessing a surge in religious tourism, and I believe this trend will be a significant driver of growth in the hospitality sector for the next five years. Expanding our presence in key religious hotspots like Puri aligns perfectly with this vision,” OYO Founder and Group CEO Ritesh Agarwal said. OYO said it has been witnessing a continuous increase in religious tourism over the last couple of years, with Puri consistently ranking among the top destinations for spiritual and religious travel.
