Overview

What comes to our mind at first when we think of planning a trip? Undoubtedly, it’s the place that we want to explore. What is the second most important thing we think of? Of course, a cosy and comfortable stay. And by a cosy and comfortable stay, we mean luxurious and affordable hotels or resorts. However, this lodging preference has changed now. Recently the hospitality industry has taken a new turn with a unique concept of lodging and that concept is of Homestays. This facility has significantly gained popularity among tourists in the past few years and is expected to gain more in the coming future also. Homestays are a staying facility arranged in a personal residence or quarters. As the name itself reflects, homestays provide you with a stay having a homely and personal touch. This concept has changed the scenario of the tourism and hospitality industry and people are now preferring homestays over hotels. A similar scenario can be seen in India also, as homestays have started dominating the market of hotels and lodgings here, gradually.

Why Homestays?

This question is quite natural to come to our mind that why one would prefer the simple and homely stays over the luxurious attractions of hotels? The answer to this question is- its growing popularity and inexpensive costs. Indian travel addicted people are preferring this offbeat stay according to their travel interests. The major reason behind it is that it provides travellers with an opportunity to explore a place to its core. From its regional people to its dialect, from local unexplored views to regional specialties like- art, culture, and foods. As they managed to get it from their hosts in these homestays. However, this unusual offering of the Indian hospitality sector has transformed itself. Homestays have now almost all that you can get in a moderate hotel. Its simplicity and closeness to the lap of our mother nature make it exceptionally attractive to the tourists.

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What does it offer?

Homestays has a lot to offer to its tourists and it is because of all these opportunities that people are going gaga over it. Considering the milieu of Indian homestays, a few reasons for this popularity can be listed below-

  • Cultural Exposure: It allows travellers to get in touch with the native culture of the place they are exploring. Staying in close connection with the local people of a place gives one the one- time opportunity to get in touch with their culture, food, and lifestyle. It undoubtedly adds more excitement to one’s tour.
  • Opportunity to Explore offbeat places: What can be better for a travel lover to get to know a place inside-out? Homestays offers them with that opportunity. Staying close to the native places allows tourists to explore the places that are not included in the travel brochure of a tourist agency. It can only be seen by getting it to know from the native people of a place.
  • Relishing the taste of local cuisine: While staying in a homestay, the most exciting thing that one can get is the taste of cuisines belonging to that place and culture. This will add to the flavor of your appetite as well as to your travel thirst.
  • Homely Feeling: Getting a touch of homely treatment when you are away from your home is one of the wonderful feelings for a traveller. In homestays, the homely atmosphere and loving treatment of the hosts steal the heart of the tourists and make him fall in love with the place even more.
  • A bit of language learning: In a diversified country like India where one can find speakers of various languages belonging to a wide variety of places, one can expect language exposure also. While staying in a homestay, one gets to learn a few language chunks native to that place.
  • Cheap yet worth living: When it comes to travelling, money is one of the important things that we need to consider to manage a trip within budget. In India, homestays are less expensive compared to hotel stays.
  • Employment opportunities: One of the unnoticed aspects that homestay offers is employment. To manage the business on a small scale, owners employ native and inexperienced people to allow them to earn. It not only serves his purpose of running the business but provides employment to many unemployed natives also.

 

Apart from all these reasons, homestays offer a lot more. It encourages travellers to explore new things and experiences. It also enables him to be more adventurous in his journey to a new place and much more. In India, where we believe our guests to be our God, homestays offer more personal and loving treatment to its guests. It leaves them with a memory of a place that they can never forget. Now homestays can be found in almost all the popular hill stations and other places in India also. It is sure to gain more and more admiration among tourists in India in the coming years.