Goa Revolutionizes Rural Tourism with Empowering Homestay Policy
The Goa government has updated its Homestay Policy to better support rural communities by offering a direct grant for setting up homestays. This policy change aims to empower rural women, enhance cultural preservation, and create new livelihood opportunities. A focus remains on non-coastal, non-urban zones.
- Country:
- India
The Goa government has taken a significant step towards supporting rural communities by amending its Homestay Policy, announced by minister Rohan Khaunte. The revision aims to address financial barriers previously faced by applicants by introducing a direct grant of Rs 2 lakh, replacing the reimbursement-based model.
This pivotal change seeks to be more inclusive and accessible, particularly for women in rural households, who found the former scheme impractical. The revised policy targets homestays with one to six rooms, focusing on rural areas, and restricts incentives to non-coastal and non-urban zones.
The initiative is rooted in empowering women and promoting community-based tourism. Managed primarily by women, these homestays are set to create new livelihood opportunities while preserving local cultural heritage. The tourism department will launch the application process post-August 8, initially supporting 100 homestays and strengthening partnerships with platforms like Airbnb and MakeMyTrip.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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