Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has intensified efforts to promote rural and experiential tourism through a large-scale curated homestay initiative aimed at generating local livelihoods and offering tourists authentic cultural immersion experiences across the state.
Under the Odisha Homestay Establishment Scheme-2025, the Tourism Department has identified 61 gram panchayats across 19 districts for the development of tourism-focused homestay clusters in areas with strong visitor potential but limited accommodation infrastructure.
Popular tourist destinations such as Daringbadi, Deomali, and regions surrounding Duduma Waterfalls are expected to witness significant homestay expansion under the programme.
Officials said the government plans to establish nearly 380 curated homestays during the first phase of implementation. To encourage participation, eligible homestay owners will receive financial incentives of up to ₹10 lakh per unit along with branding, hospitality training, and marketing support.
The initiative is designed to promote immersive tourism experiences by enabling visitors to directly engage with local communities, traditional cuisines, tribal culture, folk traditions, and rural lifestyles through family-hosted accommodations.
Authorities believe the programme will create sustainable income opportunities for rural entrepreneurs, women’s groups, and local households while reducing dependence on conventional urban tourism infrastructure.
To strengthen digital outreach and bookings, the state government has also launched the Go-Homestay Portal, which is expected to support rural tourism entrepreneurs and improve visibility of Odisha’s emerging homestay destinations.
Tourism officials said the initiative forms part of Odisha’s broader strategy to position the state as a leading experiential, eco-tourism, and community-based tourism destination in India while ensuring inclusive development in rural and tribal regions.
-OdishaAge
