Odisha Launches ‘Go-Homestay Portal’ to Boost Community-Based Tourism

Bhubaneswar: To promote community-led tourism and supporting local entrepreneurship, the Odisha government on Thursday launched the Go-Homestay Portal in Bhubaneswar. The portal was inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida during a State-level workshop on the Odisha Homestays Establishment Scheme–2025.

Speaking on the occasion, the Deputy Chief Minister said homestays play a crucial role in showcasing Odisha’s rich culture, traditions, and hospitality to visitors. She noted that the newly launched portal will make the process of registering and managing homestays more transparent and accessible, while also simplifying procedures for aspiring entrepreneurs interested in entering the tourism sector.

Highlighting the broader vision behind the initiative, Parida said the scheme is designed to empower rural households, women, and local entrepreneurs by creating livelihood opportunities through tourism. She added that promoting homestays would help visitors experience authentic local culture while ensuring that tourism benefits reach grassroots communities.

The workshop brought together officials, tourism stakeholders, and homestay operators to discuss the implementation of the Odisha Homestays Establishment Scheme–2025. The programme included presentations on the scheme’s operational guidelines, a demonstration of the Go-Homestay Portal by the technical team, and expert sessions by representatives from Homestays of India and Svanir Wilderness Homestay.

Panel discussions were also held with experienced homestay owners, who shared their experiences, best practices, and success stories in running sustainable hospitality ventures.

Among those present at the event were Balwant Singh, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Tourism Department; Deepankar Mohapatra, Director of Tourism; Monica Priyadarshini, State Mission Director-cum-CEO of Odisha Livelihoods Mission (OLM), along with district-level officials, representatives from financial institutions, PRI members, and homestay owners from across the State.

Officials said the discussions concluded with a roadmap outlining the next steps for the scheme’s implementation and the responsibilities of district administrations to support the growth of homestay-based tourism across Odisha.