The Odisha government has decided to promote homestay facilities at nature trails and eco-tourist spots in the state.

Homestay facilities will be developed in remote areas untouched by the hotel network. The project will be supported by the state government for a period of 10 years.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting chaired by chief secretary Asit Tripathy.

“Nature trails and experiential tourism is the current fad, and Odisha has much to offer in this sector. Homestay facilities will be linked with global online travel aggregators such as Airbnb, Oyo, MakeMyTrip, etc, and onboarded onto their respective sites,” said Tripathy.

Development commissioner Suresh Chandra Mohapatra said, “Presently homestay facilities in Magalajodi in Khordha district and at Dangmala in Kendrapara district have shown encouraging results. Such facilities at other places will attract more tourists and will expand economic activities in the rural sector. It can be tapped as a sustainable source of livelihood and an income generation activity.”

Homestay facilities will be developed in places like Diam-ond Triangle Buddhist circuit (Ratnagiri–Udayagiri–Lalitgiri); Onkadelli in Koraput district; Khola, Gupti, Dangmala and Bhitarkanika National Park in Kendrapara district; Daringibadi and Belghar in Kandhamal; Simlipal, Pithabata and Jashipur in Mayurbhanj; Tikarpada and Satakosia in Angul; Magalajodi and Chilika in Khordha district and Dhodrokusum and Zero point in Bargarh district.

Around 80 homestay providers at these places will be incentivised each year with financial support.