Shillong: Meghalaya is expanding its homestay programme as part of a broader strategy to meet growing tourist demand, generate rural livelihoods and ensure that the economic benefits of tourism reach local communities across the state.
The move comes amid a steady rise in visitor arrivals and increasing national recognition of Meghalaya as a year-round tourism destination.
According to state government data, tourist arrivals have increased from around 12 lakh in 2018 to more than 16 lakh currently. The government has set a target of attracting 21 lakh visitors by 2028.
The state’s tourism sector received a further boost after Shillong emerged as the most-searched travel destination in India in Skyscanner’s 2025 report.
In April this year, NITI Aayog’s report, Divya Bharat: A Window to the Soul of India, also identified Meghalaya as one of India’s few destinations with tourism potential throughout the year, citing attractions such as living root bridges, cave systems and indigenous cultural traditions.
As tourist numbers increased, the government identified accommodation shortages in several emerging destinations as a major challenge.
To address this gap, the Meghalaya Tourism Department launched the Meghalaya Tourism Homestay Scheme in September 2023 in convergence with the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP).
Under the scheme, beneficiaries receive financial assistance of up to 70 per cent for projects costing up to ₹10 lakh, combining a 35 per cent subsidy under PMEGP with an additional 35 per cent support from the state government.
Officials said the scheme has sanctioned around 900 applications so far, leading to the establishment of more than 490 operational homestays across the state. The initiative has created approximately 1,000 rooms and generated an estimated 1,500 livelihood opportunities.
Building on that momentum, the government launched the Chief Minister’s Meghalaya Homestay Mission in September 2025.
The mission aims to establish 3,000 new homestays and create 15,000 direct and indirect jobs by 2028. Under the programme, new homestays are eligible for subsidies of up to ₹7 lakh, while existing units can receive up to ₹2 lakh for upgrades and quality improvements.
According to officials, 80 applications have already been approved across 10 districts under the new mission.
Beneficiaries say the schemes have helped them establish sustainable businesses and improve household incomes.
Daminot Kharshandi, a first-generation entrepreneur from Ri Bhoi district, said government support enabled him to launch and expand his homestay business.
“The Homestay Scheme gave me the financial confidence to launch my business, which I have successfully expanded,” Kharshandi said, adding that Meghalaya Tourism’s branding initiatives have helped attract more visitors.
Another beneficiary, Donny Esmond Rapsang of Umden Umsaitprah in Umroi, established Friendship Homestay with financial assistance exceeding ₹9 lakh under the scheme. Construction began in 2023 and the facility opened to guests in 2025.
Rapsang said the venture has not only supported his family but has also generated employment opportunities for local youth involved in construction and operations.
The state government views homestays as a key component of its tourism ecosystem, alongside transport services, local food enterprises and tourist guide networks.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has repeatedly emphasised that tourism development should benefit communities at the grassroots rather than remain concentrated among a few large operators.
The government’s approach is expected to play a significant role during the 39th National Games, scheduled to be hosted by Meghalaya in 2027. Officials have indicated that visitors may be accommodated through homestays rather than conventional Games Villages, providing local families with an opportunity to participate directly in one of the state’s largest sporting events.
Officials say the homestay programme is intended not only to expand accommodation capacity but also to create a more inclusive tourism model in which local communities become active stakeholders in the state’s economic growth.
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