MUMBAI: Indian budget hotel company Oyo Rooms has forayed into China to cater to the country’s burgeoning hospitality industry. Oyo Rooms.

The Softbank-backed Oyo in China will have 11,000 exclusive-franchise or merchandised rooms across 26 cities. The service will be available in Xiamen, Kunming, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Nanjing, Xian among others.

The company will compete with already established players in the market including Home Inns, GreenTree and Motel 168.

Oyo founder and CEO Ritesh Agarwal says, “The country’s tourism industry is on the cusp of booming and flourishing wherein it enjoys a strong influx of both domestic and international tourists; also the market is as fragmented as the Indian hotel market. With our expertise in managing chain of hotels backed by technological innovations, we will further continue to strengthen our footprint while empowering neighbourhood hotels to emerge in the same league as the big boys of hospitality.”

The company is looking at expanding its footprint in international markets, with Dubai and Indonesia being high on its priority. Agarwal is also said to be exploring opportunities in the UK and US markets.