Meghalaya Bets On Homestays To Meet Tourism Demand

Meghalaya’s tourism sector has expanded rapidly over the past few years, bringing both opportunities and challenges for the state.

As visitor numbers continue to rise, authorities have increasingly turned to homestays as a way to address accommodation shortages while ensuring that tourism benefits reach local communities.

The state’s growing popularity as a travel destination has been reflected in several recent indicators.

Shillong was named India’s most-searched travel destination in Skyscanner’s 2025 report, while tourist arrivals in Meghalaya have risen from around 12 lakh in 2018 to more than 16 lakh in recent years.

The government has set a target of attracting 21 lakh visitors by 2028.

Further recognition came in April 2026 when NITI Aayog’s report, Divya Bharat: A Window to the Soul of India, identified Meghalaya as one of the country’s few year-round tourism destinations.

The report highlighted attractions such as the state’s living root bridges, cave systems and indigenous cultural traditions.

However, the increase in tourist footfall has also exposed gaps in accommodation infrastructure, particularly in emerging destinations where hotel capacity remains limited.

To address this, the state government has focused on encouraging local households to enter the tourism sector through homestays.

The Meghalaya Tourism Homestay Scheme, launched in September 2023 in convergence with the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), was designed to support aspiring homestay operators.

Under the scheme, beneficiaries can receive financial assistance covering up to 70 per cent of project costs for ventures worth up to Rs 10 lakh.

This includes a 35 per cent subsidy under PMEGP and an additional 35 per cent contribution from the state’s Tourism Department.

According to government figures, around 900 applications were sanctioned under the scheme. More than 490 homestays have since become operational, adding approximately 1,000 rooms and generating around 1,500 livelihood opportunities across the state.

Building on this initiative, the government launched the Chief Minister’s Meghalaya Homestay Mission in September 2025.

The programme aims to establish 3,000 additional homestays and create an estimated 15,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities by 2028.

Under the mission, new homestay operators can receive subsidies of up to Rs 7 lakh, while existing operators are eligible for assistance of up to Rs 2 lakh to upgrade facilities.

Government data shows that 80 applications have already been approved across 10 districts.

For many beneficiaries, the schemes have provided an entry point into entrepreneurship.

Daminot Kharshandi of Ri Bhoi district, a beneficiary of the programme, said financial support under the homestay scheme enabled him to establish and expand his business.

He also credited Meghalaya’s tourism promotion efforts with helping attract more visitors.

Another beneficiary, Donny Esmond Rapsang from Umden Umsaitprah in Umroi, developed Friendship Homestay with assistance received under the scheme.

After years of moving between different jobs and small businesses, he began construction of the homestay in 2023, completed it the following year and opened it to guests in 2025.

The venture now supports his family and has also created work opportunities for local residents.

The government views homestays as part of a broader tourism ecosystem that includes transport operators, food vendors, guides and other service providers.

The idea is to distribute tourism-related income across local communities rather than concentrating it within larger hospitality businesses alone.

This approach is expected to play a significant role in preparations for the 39th National Games, which Meghalaya is scheduled to host in 2027.

State authorities have indicated that homestays will be used extensively to accommodate visitors, placing local households at the centre of the hospitality arrangements.

As Meghalaya seeks to strengthen its position as a major tourism destination, homestays are increasingly being seen as more than just an accommodation option.

They have become a key part of the state’s strategy to expand tourism infrastructure while creating economic opportunities for families and communities across both urban and rural areas.

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