How to start a homestay business in the hill?

In the past several years, numerous novel travel concepts have been developed. For instance, opulent hotels, igloos, cruise ships, and other such things. Numerous individuals are interested in sustainable tourism as well as ecotourism. Homestays in the hill are now present as a result.

What are homestays?

Homestay is a new concept in travel that is being adopted by people for a variety of reasons, including to promote local culture throughout India, increase local tourism, and rotate income. A homestay is some local home owned by a local resident or alien in the mountains or anywhere who welcomes tourists and informs them about the culture while they are there.

We should providewith  you four reasons why you should choose a homestay over a hotel. Nowadays, people choose homestays over resorts since it lets them connect with people.

• While hotels provide the view, homestays on the hill provide the atmosphere.
• Homestays inform you about the culture, but homestays give you an inside look.
• In homestays, you may connect with business people, and in homestays, you can connect with locals.
• While staying in hotels, you live and explore, and while living in a homestay, you make friends and explore together.

Why start a homestay on the hill?

We advise you to create your own homestay, become a local in that hill region, or, if you can’t, connect with a local and create one in order to benefit tourism and for your personal benefit. You are always welcome to contact us for support, so let us give you a few examples that could help you understand. Here are several key justifications for choosing a homestay.

• It is a second home for you: You are just not making a homestay; you are making another home for you that ensures that you come around for vacations or maybe to settle soon once you are done with the cities.
• It can help you with your additional earning: For long stays, at post-pandemic time and post following this work from home culture, it can help you to get an additional source of income and all you need is liaisons for your lucrative stay for the people that you are making.
• You become a part of the local: A dream come true wherein you explore locals, live local and be a part of them while you host your favorite guests aboard and share your favorite round table story while you listen to theirs over a few beers.
• opens up a range of opportunities for you, including the chance to network with locals and sell their products to tourists. Additionally, you may use the homestay to establish organic farms, a small café, a library, an art gallery, and other businesses. It enables you to generate many kinds of income and aids in investing money in regional tourism.
• The hill tourism sector needs a hit and rotation: If there was one sector that had suffered the most from the epidemic, it was the tourism sector. If you are a techie or someone with a similar skill set, consider starting a homestay to assist the government to distribute funds to the local population while also helping your country’s economy.

How to plan the homestay business on the hill?

Space

Together with a companion, you might rent a house or a cottage on the hill where you want to stay. It doesn’t have to be extremely big—even the spare bedroom in your apartment can do. One homestay may have a minimum of one room and a maximum of six rooms without a restaurant.

Office

This company is readily handled from a home office in the hill. All you will need is a mobile phone and a laptop with an internet connection. You may also use the Facebook Business page for this.

License

One of your first tasks should be to obtain a homestay license for your residence or another facility. The tourist department requires that you fill out and submit an application form in order to register. You must also obtain authorization from the local police and panchayats. For the purpose of awarding licenses to home stays, each state tourist board has its own rules for fundamental facilities, room measurements, safety procedures, etc. A license must also meet the requirement that the homestay’s proprietor lives there with his or her family. You must notify the landlord about the subleasing and obtain his consent if the property is rented.

Customer Service

Look for ways to continuously improve your customer service and solve any problems guests may have. Try to look at things from your guest’s perspective. For most guests, high-speed internet is a must, and you must provide this facility. It is best, to be honest with your guests. For example, if they have to climb some stairs to reach the apartment, it is best to give them this information beforehand.

Cost Control

There are several costs in running a homestay. You have to keep proper records of income and expenditure. Once you know how much it costs you to host guests, you will form an idea about how much to charge for the services. Also, try to find out what other similar accommodations are charging before you set your price.

Conclusion

Create a marketing strategy that is active. Understand your target audience, as well as how to approach them. If you offer good service, your guests will tell others about your homestay and you’ll gain return business. On your home page, you should display the comments and ratings left by your visitors. Consider how you have a competitive edge.

Use your homestay’s unique selling point or interesting activities to draw visitors. You may promote your homestay on internet travel directories and attract guests through the booking services. You must, however, give these tour companies a portion of the homestay commission. You need to have a strong internet presence and come up with a distinctive brand identity for yourself. The development of a website and providing details such as prices and photographs in it. You can also check out HOW TO START A HOMESTAY BUSINESS IN WEST BENGAL ?