How Homestays Have Become The New Picture Of Tourism

Overview

The number of tourists visiting India has increased manifold during the past few decades. Especially after the tourism attraction program of Incredible India, India is witnessing a large influx of tourists .Even our countrymen have also started coming out of their shells and visiting every nook and corner of the country.

This Picture Is Of  A Homestay In Shimoga known as Devangi Atithya Homestay

Not only foreign tourists, but even many local tourists prefer staying in the comfort of a homely environment where one is not bounded by so-called protocols. One can freely mingle with the local people, enjoy home made food and relax in the cosy comfort of a house away from the hustle and bustle of city life. The desire for such holidays has given rise to a new concept: Home Stay i.e. a home away from home. It has enabled tourists to enjoy their stay in these Home Stays and a scope to learn local culture and traditions. One can clearly say that these Home Stays definitely offer a home away from home feel. 

What is a Home Stay?

Home stays are houses inside farms or plantations in areas which are away from the town or city. People living in those areas have converted their farm houses, heritage houses or hill cottages with a view to accommodate a couple of guests. These guests can live in a homely atmosphere and get a chance to mingle with another local family who are mainly the host. At some places even more than one family are accommodated at one place. As per the guidelines set by Government of India, any Home Stay can have only 5 rooms at the maximum. 

Types of Home Stays

Depending upon the place, you can find different kinds of home stays. They are available near the beaches, in the plantations and even in some villages. Though the place may vary but the basic concept of Home Stays remains the same everywhere. While staying at those places, you can watch the fishermen going out to the sea for their catch or the labourers at work in the coffee, rubber or tea plantations. You can also get a chance to have a stay for a day or two in a boat houses and idle on the decks of boats, ride a bullock cart, plough a field with a tractor, join the labourers in the plantations and enjoy the local festivals. Besides offering local delicacies in their meals, some Home Stays also offer the guests to learn some local cuisines. 

What can we Expect in Home Stays?

As already said, Home Stays are quite different from hotels and lodges. Here one can expect the following things:

• Homely Comfort: Home Stays allows you freedom. It provides you a comfortable stay in a homely atmosphere. Here you can relax with your family members; play games or listen to music all in a homely atmosphere. It really refreshes you mentally as staying with your near ones is always pleasurable. Having an entire space for you and your family and enjoying home-made food along with a great vacation is definitely a great luxury in this fast paced world.


• Personal Care: Since there is only one family staying with the host, the guests are treated with utmost care and due attention is paid to their comforts.


• Mingle With People and Make New Friends: Staying in the Home Stays together with some other families with different culture and habits will give you a chance to know them better. It would become more enjoyable as it would be like a social gathering with only a few people to interact and know. All these would make your vacation a great fun.


• Lean new things: When you choose to stay in Home Stays, you get a better chance to mix with the local people and know more about their cultures and traditions.

Duties and Responsibilities of Guests in a Home Stay

Guests are expected to be amiable and cooperative. The guests should honour and value the sentiments of the hosts. They should never think that only monetary relation is there between the host and the hosts. Both should honour and respect one another. 

Conclusion

As you can see, home stays are a wonderful form of accommodation which provide all the facilities & services akin to what you have at your own house. You can thus stay in comfort without stretching your budget too much while on travel!