Status of homestay tourism in Indian Himalayan region: Analysis of customer review and policy support for sustainable tourism

Abstract

Homestays, which have emerged as a popular idea in the growing tourism industry, act as the most suitable alternative to encourage sustainable tourism activities in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR). Homestay tourism not only provides economic benefits to rural communities but also promotes local art, architecture, traditions, and food habits. The objective of this study was to determine the distribution of homestays in the IHR and to evaluate and compare homestay management facilities between states; between rural and urban homestays; and based on reviews and ratings from previous guests. The study included all of IHR’s states and union territories. The data for the number of homestays, ratings, and reviews of guests were taken from the popular travel booking sites with the help of a data extracting tool. According to the findings, Himachal Pradesh had the highest number of homestays (968), while Tripura had the least number of homestays (3), compared to all other states and union territories. The homestays in Jammu and Kashmir received the highest ratings. In Himachal Pradesh, homestays were available at a variety of pricing points, ranging from 300 to 38,000 INR a night. Overall, it was observed that rural homestays were equally good as their counterparts in urban areas when the hospitality standards of the rural and urban homestays were compared. To boost the effectiveness of this programme in IHR, the study’s findings may be used to design local policies, rules, and incentive programmes for the areas in which they will be put into practise.