NITI Aayog Releases Report on “Rethinking Homestays: Navigating Policy Pathways”

NITI Aayog, in collaboration with the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), has released a new report titled “Rethinking Homestays: Navigating Policy Pathways”, offering a strategic roadmap to strengthen India’s homestay and BnB ecosystem.

The report was unveiled on 22 August 2025 by Shri Suman Bery, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog, in the presence of Shri Yugal Kishore Joshi, Programme Director, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, and representatives from states like Goa, Kerala, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh.

Key Highlights of the Report

• Homestays as cultural bridges: Promote authentic, immersive travel experiences while boosting local entrepreneurship and jobs.
• Policy direction: Advocates light-touch, transparent regulatory frameworks to ensure safety, heritage protection, and sustainable growth.
• Public–private collaboration: Emphasized through participation of IAMAI, MakeMyTrip, Airbnb, Chase India, ISPP, and The Convergence Foundation.
• Livelihood impact: Highlights how homestays can drive economic opportunities in rural and semi-urban areas.
• Digital empowerment: Calls for greater use of digital platforms for host training, consumer trust, and sector scalability.
• Best practices: Features state-level case studies showcasing scalable models of homestay governance.

Significance

The report positions homestays and BnBs as vital components of India’s tourism growth, blending,

• Cultural authenticity with modern hospitality.
• Local livelihood creation with heritage preservation.
• Inclusive development with sustainable tourism.
• By offering actionable policy recommendations, the document aims to build a resilient, heritage-conscious homestay sector aligned with India’s tourism vision.