Bhubaneswar, Mar 6: In a major push to promote rural and sustainable tourism, Pravati Parida, Deputy Chief Minister of Odisha, on Thursday inaugurated the Go-Homestay portal, a dedicated digital platform developed under the Odisha Homestays Establishment Scheme-2025.
The portal was launched during a state-level workshop aimed at familiarising stakeholders with the scheme’s guidelines and implementation strategy. The initiative is designed to empower rural households, women, and local entrepreneurs by enabling them to convert their homes into tourist accommodations that reflect the state’s rich culture, traditions, and hospitality.
Addressing the gathering, Parida said homestays offer far more than just a place to stay, serving as gateways for visitors to experience the authentic lifestyle of local communities. “The Go-Homestay portal will ensure transparency, simplify procedures and make it easier for aspiring owners to start and operate homestays,” she said.
The initiative aligns with the state government’s vision of promoting inclusive growth by strengthening tourism in rural and lesser-explored regions. The portal provides a comprehensive digital solution that manages the entire homestay lifecycle—from online applications and document submissions to real-time tracking, approvals, visitor management, and compliance monitoring.
Officials said the platform will help promote eco-friendly tourism while encouraging travellers to explore offbeat rural destinations. By doing so, it is expected to create new livelihood opportunities for local communities and support sustainable tourism development across the state.
The workshop featured detailed presentations on the scheme’s operational framework and a live demonstration of the portal by technical experts. Representatives from industry groups, including Homestays of India and Svanir Wilderness Homestay, shared insights on the growing homestay sector, highlighting successful models and best practices.
Experienced homestay operators also shared their journeys and lessons from the field, followed by discussions on district-level responsibilities and the roadmap for effective implementation of the scheme.
Among those present at the event were Balwant Singh, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Tourism Department; Deepankar Mohapatra; and Monica Odisha Livelihoods Mission. District officials, representatives from financial institutions, PRI members, and homestay operators also attended the workshop.
Officials noted that the Go-Homestay portal will strengthen monitoring mechanisms, encourage eco-friendly tourism practices, and help position Odisha as a leading destination for community-driven hospitality, benefiting both hosts and visitors in the years to come.
