Team Blitz India
NEW DELHI: Hospitality industry is flocking to Ayodhya as religious tourism in India witnesses accelerated growth and the upcoming Ram Temple is adding another attraction to the historical site.
From leading 5-star brands like the Taj, Radisson and ITC Hotels to budget players such as OYO, companies lining up to open new hotels there have their share in the 25,000 rooms envisaged in future by the Uttar Pradesh government.
Tata Group hospitality firm Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL) plans to open two new properties, and Radisson also has a similar plan, a national daily reported on May 1.
Another major player, ITC Hotels is also exploring opportunities in Ayodhya to cater to increased demand that is projected to reach 4 crore visitors annually by 2031 under the Ayodhya Master Plan 2031, up from 2 crore visitors at present.
At the other end of the spectrum, OYO plans to add 50 new properties — 25 homestays and 25 small and medium hotels with 10 to 20 rooms each — in Ayodhya in 2023 under a collaboration with Ayodhya Development Authority and Uttar Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation.
“Spiritual tourism, which has existed in India since antiquity, has gained more importance in recent times, specially after the ‘black swan’ event like the COVID-19 pandemic, where people are looking to find deeper meanings of real life,” IHCL Executive Vice President – Real Estate & Development Suma Venkatesh said.
