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| Homestay in Kerala - Income for Middle Class Families |
How about using our native natural resources to woo foreign tourists to different spots in Kerala? What if we involve the people of our state in this process?
The whole idea of homestay as an opportunity is to bring wide adoption of homestay concept in Kerala and thereby transforming our state to be the most tourist friendly state of India.
This is the premise of this blog post!
Now, tell me what you think of this idea for Kerala?
Btw, even as I chalk this plan, I have big apprehension about our capability, b'cos in general I feel we are backward in service. Our people carry around with too much ego or some kind of wrong superiority notion. So, unless we bring a transformation in our mindset, towards service and hospitality, this concept of attracting tourist will just be on paper.
Anyways, there's no problem in having big goals and who knows such a project can have an overall impact on the life, society and biz of Kerala!
What if every Panchayat introduce a scheme an open door policy to welcome foreigners, tourists to our house? What if this is done correctly, with due diligence on both the parties?
Essentials for a Successful Homestay in Kerala
1. Setting Up and Preparing the Space for homestay
Clean and Comfortable Rooms: Ensure the space is clean, comfortable, and equipped with basic amenities like fresh linen, towels, toiletries, and a working fan or air conditioning unit. 🛏️
Here's a problem - most public toilets even in tourist location are badly maintained. Also, the toilets in hotels ( mid-sized) ones are not maintained well. Often they are smelly, there's water on the floor, and the spark of the ceramic is absent!
Local Decor and Ambiance: Decorate the space with a touch of local culture using Kerala-style furniture, traditional art, or coastal/mountain elements to create an authentic experience.
Kitchen Access or Dining Options: Provide guests with kitchen access or prepare local meals for an additional charge, offering them a taste of Kerala cuisine. 🍽️
2. Best Practices for Hosting Guests in Homestays
Warm and Friendly Welcome: Greet guests personally, provide a welcome drink, and offer a guide with information on nearby attractions and local culture.
Clear Communication: Maintain open communication through Airbnb or other booking platforms, providing quick responses to guest inquiries and feedback. 💬
Local Experience Packages: Offer packages like backwater boat rides, spice farm visits, Keralam cooking lessons, or trekking experiences to enhance guests’ stay. 🌴
3. Safety Tips for Hosts and Guests
Verify Guest Identity: Always verify the guest’s identity ( Passport in case of overseas guests or aadhar for Indians) before check-in to ensure safety and security for both parties. 🛡️
Install Safety Measures: Equip the homestays with smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and a basic first aid kit. For coastal properties, ensure lifebuoys are available. 🚨
Emergency Contact List: Provide a list of emergency contacts, including the local police, hospital, and your personal number, for guests to feel secure during their stay. 📞
4. Earning a Sizable Income from Homestays
Offer Seasonal Packages: Tailor prices according to the tourist seasons (monsoon, festival seasons like Onam, and winter), attracting different types of travelers. 🌧️🎉
Focus on Online Presence: Ensure your listing has attractive photos, positive reviews, and detailed descriptions on platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com to reach a wider audience. 🌐
Local Collaborations: Collaborate with local tour guides, boat services, and other small businesses to create all-inclusive packages that increase your earning potential. 🤝
Tourist Potential in Kerala
Kerala offers a variety of tourist attractions, making it an ideal location for homestays:
Backwaters of Alleppey, Kollam, Kadinamkulam & Kumarakom: Attracts travelers looking for a serene experience on houseboats.
Hill Stations like Munnar & Wayanad, Ponmudi: Popular among adventure seekers and nature lovers.
Beaches of Varkala & Kovalam, Cherai: Perfect for tourists seeking a seaside retreat.
Heritage Spots: Fort Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram’s palaces draw history enthusiasts.
Wildlife Sanctuaries: Periyar and other national parks appeal to nature and wildlife lovers.
Tea Estates in Kerala - Kerala has many tea and coffee plantation sites. The people living in such area can provide stay accommodation for tourists who are interested in such scenic points.
Action for the Government of Kerala
The government of Kerala should establish a streamlined process to promote homestays as a viable income source. By facilitating the approval process within a week and promoting the initiative for 20,000 families to start home-stays in Kerala in 2025 This will = create over 50,000 jobs ( direct and in direct way) and generate significant additional income from tourism.
Homestays provide not only a livelihood for locals but also enrich Kerala’s tourism economy, creating direct and indirect employment and it's a win-win situation for the state. 🌟
Conclusion
All said and done, one key driver of this project is the leadership of the state govt and the officials. Leadership needs to drive the change by creating the process, supporting the households, making the approval process simplified, and selling the vision of change, adoption to the public.
It's not a "push button" approach, but a long term vision on how this project will benefit the public, and the state as a bigger beneficiary.
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P.S While searching for homestay, I reached this Australian website which provides homestay for students. It's a well organized site to connect students to hosts. Check this site, Australian Homestay Network! Can we make a similar concept in Kerala.
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