West Godavari District Launches Homestay Scheme to Boost Rural Tourism Ahead of Sankranti
Most women organizations took it upon themselves to organize, maintain, and manage these stays.
An officials in West Godavari district (Andhra Pradesh) are introducing a new homestay scheme just in time for the Sankranti festive season. Their idea is to transform villages into tourists’ stays and let local families have other sources of income.
Over 90 homes across the district are the initial targets of the programme. Besides this, the Mission for Elimination of Poverty in Municipal Areas (MEPMA) is preparing another 50 homestays in places like Bhimavaram, Tanuku and Palakollu.
Interesting detail: A homestay should be one that is a functioning home, the host family keeps living there. Visitors may be accommodated in one to six rooms (a maximum of 12 beds). A local representative must always be there to help the visitors.
The women’s self-help groups in particular are the driving force behind the plan. They will be responsible for organising, managing and running the homestays.
MEPMA is giving soft loans, sanitation assistance and up to Rs 3 lakh of monetary support to families who will be renovating their houses. The hosts will also be trained and familiarized with guest service, housekeeping and other hospitality standards.
The point is: Villagers get to see this not only as tourism, but also as a source of income, acquiring new skills and opening their homes to visitors. Tourists get a more immersive rural experience: traditional meals, village life, temple visits, local culture.
Where the importance lies: Accommodation has been a limiting factor during Sankranti when there has been a peak of rural tourist traffic. By turning homes into guest stays, the district plans to cover that shortage and let the economic benefit be shared widely.
In short: West Godavari’s home-stay campaign is rural-tourism combined with community empowerment. Visitors get to stay in real homes. Locals become hosts. Culture meets economy.
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