Multi-level Governance of Homestay Tourism for Inclusive Development: From Global Policy Frameworks to West Bengal

Abstract

Homestay tourism which was once an unorganized sector has gradually turned into a planned development strategy of many governments. This paper empirically examines policy, institutional and governance factors of homestay tourism at the national level (India), sub-national level (West Bengal) and international level and identifies the factors affecting the sustainability of homestay tourism projects. There is hardly any comparative study evaluating homestay policies at various levels of governance. This study reveals a wide gap between policy and action, especially at the state level where homestay tourism initiatives have been characterized by failures due to inappropriate institutional arrangements, poor capacity building measures and lack of regulatory frameworks. The study situates West Bengal homestay policy within the Indian and international context of homestay tourism policies and in the process sheds light on the crucial role played by governance structures, institutional learning and community participation in enabling the sustainability of homestay tourism systems.

Introduction

Tourism plays a major role in economic development by generating income, employment, and foreign exchange, especially in developing countries. However, conventional mass tourism often leads to issues such as cultural commercialization, environmental degradation, and exclusion of local communities from tourism benefits. As a result, there is growing interest in sustainable and community-based tourism models, one of the most important being homestay tourism. In this model, tourists stay with local families, experience their culture and daily life, and contribute directly to household economies. Homestays require lower infrastructure investment than hotels and can help empower women, support rural livelihoods, and preserve cultural heritage.

Globally, organizations such as the UNWTO promote homestay tourism as a tool for sustainable development and poverty reduction. Countries like Malaysia, Thailand, Nepal, and Indonesia have implemented structured policies, training programs, and registration systems to strengthen homestay governance and improve rural incomes.

In India, homestay tourism evolved through initiatives such as the Incredible India Bed and Breakfast Scheme (2006) and the National Strategy for the Promotion of Rural Homestays (2022). These programs aim to promote rural entrepreneurship, digital connectivity, and skill development. However, implementation challenges remain, including limited coordination between agencies, uneven training coverage, and low registration levels.

In West Bengal, the Homestay Tourism Policy introduced in 2017 and revised in 2022 aims to support rural tourism, promote local culture, and create livelihood opportunities, especially in hill, forest, and coastal areas such as Darjeeling, Dooars, Jhargram, and the Sundarbans. While the number of homestays has increased and many households—particularly women—have gained additional income, challenges persist. These include weak monitoring systems, limited digital marketing, lack of awareness about registration procedures, and uneven access to training and financial support.

The study uses a qualitative, multi-level policy analysis comparing global, national, and state-level frameworks. Findings show that although policy objectives are similar across levels—focusing on sustainability, community participation, and poverty reduction—the effectiveness of homestay tourism depends largely on institutional capacity, governance coordination, and consistent implementation.

Conclusion

This research sees homestay tourism not merely as another place to stay but as a means to shape fairer, locally driven growth in countryside areas. When looking at patterns worldwide, across India, and within West Bengal, one thing becomes clear: goals around better jobs, local participation, stronger roles for women, and lasting culture often match up - yet how well rules are applied and managed varies widely. Lessons from places like Malaysia, Thailand, and Nepal suggest lasting success in homestay tourism depends on clear rules, training programs, yet regular oversight too. Yet when platforms grow unchecked, despite weak supervision, local people often lose influence fairness tends to fade along the way. Homestays in India now tie into digital tools, training, skills, alongside new business chances in villages - thanks to the National Strategy for the Promotion of Rural Homestays (2022). Still, progress drags where states fail to align efforts or apply rules the same way (NITI Aayog, 2021). Take West Bengal: growth is happening fast there; people earn more locally because of these stays. Yet confusion remains around who leads what, how hosts learn their role, what rules they follow, even whether oversight works well (Bhattacharya, 2024; Das et al., 2025).

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Copyright © 2026 Mainul Islam, Uttam Kr. Chakraborty. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.