Panaji: The Goa government has amended its Homestay Policy to address the key challenges faced by the local communities who are involved in the hospitality sector in the state’s rural areas, Minister Rohan Khaunte said on Monday.
Addressing a press conference on the sidelines of the ongoing monsoon assembly session on Monday evening, Khaunte said that a direct grant of Rs 2 lakh will now be offered to eligible applicants to set up homestays replacing the earlier reimbursement-based model that posed financial hurdles for many rural household.
“The original policy required beneficiaries to invest first and claim the amount later, which was not practical for women in rural households,” he said.
“Based on their feedback, we have made the necessary changes to ensure the policy is inclusive, accessible, and truly empowering,” Khaunte added.
The Minister said that the revised policy applies to homestays with 1 to 6 lettable rooms within the owner’s residence, specifically in rural areas.
“While registration is permitted across Goa, incentives will be limited to non-coastal, non-urban zones to ensure the policy’s rural focus is preserved,” Khaunte said.
He mentioned that the initiative is deeply rooted in women empowerment, as homestays will primarily be managed by the women of the household.
“This is not just about adding inventory to our tourism ecosystem—it’s about creating livelihood opportunities, preserving cultural heritage, and giving rural women a leadership role in community-based tourism,” he said.
The Department of Tourism will roll out the application process for taking benefit of this scheme once the ongoing Assembly session concludes on August 8, he said.
Khaunte said that in the initial phase, 100 homestays will be supported under the scheme.
“The department also plans to strengthen its existing MoUs with platforms like Airbnb and MakeMyTrip to promote these rural stays and improve their operational readiness,” he stated.
