At Home, for a Price

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: For the past 22 years, the Deys have spent their annual holidays in hotels. But this summer they opted for a homestay in Thekkady, Kerala. The reason? For a ‘different’ experience. “I liked the slow pace that we could take instead of rushing in and out of coaches with the crowd. It was a rare experience to live in a heritage home,” gushes 26-year-old Ronojoy Dey who planned it instead of his father and is now confident the family will look forward to a homestay next year as well.

Homestays is an evolving segment in India with several players in the fray, most unregistered. Industry experts peg the ratio of international to Indian travellers opting for this segment at 70:30. Mahindra Holidays and Resorts, entered the segment with Mahindra Homestays this February with 300 homestays across India. It plans to add 700 more in the next five years. “There are about 1,500 homestays affiliated to local governments across India with Maharashtra leading with a 10% share,” said Japa Ghosh, Head, Marketing, Mahindra Homestays.

It’s a concept that can help Delhi offset the shortfall of 20,000 rooms for the 2010 Commonwealth Games. “Even with the opening of new hotels and extra FSI (Floor Space Index) for existing ones in Delhi, it will be difficult to accommodate the 1,00,000 tourists expected for the Games,” says Gour Kanjilal, Executive Director, Indian Association of Tour Operators. A homestay is basically a concept where the home owner rents out his accommodation. The guest gets to see local culture up close by way of cuisine, lifestyle and experience of living with a family for which no value or premium placed is high enough. Contrast this with a hotel where the guest is just a room number.