· OYO planning to add 50 hotels and homestays in Rameswaram and Ramanathapuram this year

· Rameswaram has been a cherished destination for spiritual seekers and pilgrims, but it also has immense potential for other historical exploration and beach-centric activities

· OYO to also help locals find alternate employment opportunities to reduce their dependence on natural resources for livelihood

· This includes initiating and developing tourism activities such as water sports, marine biodiversity exploration, walking trails and outdoor camping

August 7, 2023, Rameswaram. Global hospitality technology platform OYO will open homestays, hotels and walking trail to promote tourism in Rameswaram. With its iconic Ramanathaswamy Temple, the town’s tourism potential predominantly revolves around its religious significance, making it a popular destination for spiritual seekers and pilgrims. However, other attractions such as Pamban Bridge and pristine beaches also offer opportunities for historical exploration and beach-centric activities.

Aimed at unlocking the untapped tourism potential of Rameswaram, the plan seeks to project and promote Rameswaram as a major tourist attraction while ensuring the preservation of the town’s rich cultural heritage.

As part of its strategy, OYO plans to promote alternate economic opportunities for the locals to reduce their dependence on natural resources for livelihood. Homestay development plan is an integral part of the plan along with promoting a variety of tourist activities such as water sports, marine biodiversity exploration, walking trails and outdoor camping.

OYO plans to add 50 hotels and homestays by the end of this year in Rameswaram and Ramanathapuram. Most of the homestays will be near Ramanathaswamy Temple. OYO will also train homestay owners on earning opportunities by enhancing guest experience and efficiently operating their property, besides creating awareness on homestays using various marketing tools.

OYO also plans to organise workshops for homestay owners to help them get better in various hospitality disciplines such as behavioural skills, use of technology and destination promotion through innovative strategies.

Dhanushkodi, Pamban and many other parts of Rameswaram hold a rich yet unexplored cultural diversity. OYO will co-develop nature and marine walking trails for nature lovers and bird lovers and promote them through multiple online travel platforms.

OYO has already introduced homestay development programs in Jammu and Kashmir for leisure travelers and Ayodhya for religious travelers. These initiatives have received encouraging responses from local hoteliers as well as the guests as they get an authentic experience

Speaking on the initiaitve, Ritesh Agarwal, Founder & CEO, OYO, said “OYO is excited to play a supporting role in the development of Rameswaram as a tourist hotspot. We plan to unveil the hidden gems, showcase the unique experiences, and elevate the tourism potential of this iconic destination through a sustainable tourism development plan. We are committed to working closely with government authorities, local stakeholders, and the community to implement this tourism development plan effectively”.

OYO data reveals that revenue of hotels onboarded on OYO platform doubled within three months compared to independent budget hotels of a similar size. OYO 360, a self-onboarding tool, provides a simple two-click platform to enroll hotel owners on its platform and provides three types of benefits – growth benefits, partnership benefits, and OYO network benefits.

About OYO

OYO is a global platform that aims to empower entrepreneurs and small businesses with hotels and homes by providing full-stack technology products and services that aim to increase revenue and ease operations; bringing easy-to-book, affordable, and trusted accommodation to customers around the world. OYO offers 40+ integrated products and solutions to patrons who operate approximately 1.70 lakh hotels, homes and listings in more than 35 countries including India, Europe and Southeast Asia, as of September 30, 2022. For more information, visit www.oyorooms.com.

Disclaimer: Oravel Stays Limited is proposing, subject to applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, receipt of requisite approvals, market conditions and other considerations, to make an initial public offering of its equity shares (the “Equity Shares”) and has filed the Draft Red Herring Prospectus (“DRHP”) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (“SEBI”). The DRHP is available on the website of SEBI at www.sebi.gov.in, websites of the Stock Exchanges, i.e., BSE Limited and National Stock Exchange of India Limited at www.bseindia.com and www.nseindia.com, respectively, and is available on the websites of the Global Coordinators and Book Running Lead Managers, i.e., Kotak Mahindra Capital Company Limited, J.P. Morgan India Private Limited and Citigroup Global Markets India Private Limited at www.investmentbank.kotak.com, www.jpmipl.com and www.online.citibank.co.in/rhtm/citigroupglobalscreen1.htm; the websites of the Book Running Lead Managers, i.e., ICICI Securities Limited, Nomura Financial Advisory and Securities (India) Private Limited, JM Financial Limited and Deutsche Equities India Private Limited at www.icicisecurities.com, www.nomuraholdings.com/company/group/asia/india/index.html, www.jmfl.com and www.db.com/India, respectively. Investors should note that investment in equity shares involves a high degree of risk and for details relating to the same, refer to the Red Herring Prospectus which may be filed with the Registrar of Companies in the future, including the section titled “Risk Factors”. Potential investors should not rely on the DRHP filed with SEBI for making any investment decision. The Equity Shares offered in the Fresh Issue (as defined in the DRHP) and the Offer for Sale (as defined in the DRHP) have not been

and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and, may not be offered or sold within the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Accordingly, the Equity Shares are only being offered and sold (i) within the United States only to “qualified institutional buyers” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) in transactions exempt from, or not subject to, the registration requirements under the Securities Act, and (ii) outside the United States in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act and pursuant to the applicable laws of the jurisdictions where those offers and sales are made. There will be no public offering of the Equity Shares in the United States.

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