Dikhyaa Mohanty 
An important step toward bolstering community-led tourism throughout the state was taken when the Odisha government introduced the Go-Homestay Portal. The webpage was introduced at a Bhubaneswar event by Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, who is in charge of tourism. A state-level workshop on the Odisha Homestays Establishment Scheme-2025 was held in conjunction with the portal launch with the goal of educating stakeholders on the scheme’s provisions and implementation procedures.
Speaking on the occasion, Parida emphasised that homestays are not merely accommodation facilities but gateways to Odisha’s rich culture, traditions, and warm hospitality. According to her, the Go-Homestay Portal would encourage openness, accessibility, and convenience of doing business for prospective homestay entrepreneurs. The Deputy Chief Minister went on to say that the program empowers rural households, women, and local business owners via tourism-led development, which is consistent with the state government’s aim of inclusive growth.
The event included expert talks by representatives from Homestays of India and Svanir Wilderness Homestay, as well as in-depth lectures on the scheme’s operating rules and a technical team tour of the portal. Additionally, the session featured panel discussions with seasoned homestay entrepreneurs who discussed their success stories and best practices. After discussing the next steps and delineating the district-level duties and action plan, the session finished with closing remarks and a vote of gratitude.
The event was attended by Balwant Singh, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Department of Tourism; Deepankar Mohapatra, Director, Tourism; Monica Priyadarshini, State Mission Director-cum-CEO, OLM; district-level officials; financial institution representatives; PRI members; homestay owners from all over Odisha; Homestays of India experts; and other notable guests.
