A state rural livelihoods mission engaged us to develop a homestay ecosystem that could diversify rural incomes, empower women-led SHGs, and promote sustainable tourism.

The challenge

How can rural communities diversify incomes through tourism?

The client, a state rural livelihoods mission working across 200+ development blocks, aimed to strengthen incomes for millions of women organised under Self Help Groups (SHGs). To reduce dependence on agriculture and seasonal earnings, the mission envisioned building a network of rural homestays. However, success required more than infrastructure — it demanded comprehensive technical support including feasibility studies, financial structuring, capacity building, branding, compliance, and market linkage.

How we helped

Technical support for homestay development and market integration

Grant Thornton Bharat served as the Technical Support Agency for this initiative. We conducted feasibility assessments, structured the business model, and rolled out a 30-day training programme equipping SHG members with hospitality, digital, and entrepreneurial skills. To sustain off-season incomes, craft-making and allied livelihood options were introduced. We facilitated compliance processes such as FSSAI registration, UDYAM certification, police verification, and Gram Panchayat NoCs. Our team also built branding assets, ran social media outreach campaigns, and onboarded 35+ homestays to leading OTAs like Airbnb and MakeMyTrip. Collaboration with tour operators, NGOs, and local eateries ensured ecosystem convergence and greater market visibility.

The results

Women-led homestays driving income and sustainable tourism

The engagement empowered women entrepreneurs by integrating them into the state’s tourism ecosystem, boosting household incomes and enhancing financial independence. The initiative also preserved local heritage, created livelihood diversification, and promoted sustainable tourism. With stronger skills, digital access, and market linkages, rural women now run viable homestays that attract travellers while strengthening community resilience.

This initiative reflects how sustainable tourism can transform communities when women are empowered with the right skills, tools, and opportunities. At Grant Thornton Bharat, we are proud to contribute to building inclusive livelihood models that create lasting social and economic impact.
Karan Sood Partner
Our collaboration-driven approach placed rural women at the centre of this initiative. By combining skills development with market access, we helped create a sustainable homestay ecosystem that delivers income, confidence, and pride to rural households.
Gaurav Sahdev Executive Director – Infra

About our team

Our teams enable sustainable growth and institutional excellence across the tourism ecosystem. We support stakeholders through every stage of programme management — from policy advisory and implementation, destination development, and DPR preparation to transaction advisory, conservation planning, tourism promotion, and PPP framework design. Whether strengthening existing initiatives or launching new tourism strategies, our professionals work closely with governments and institutions to drive structured execution, stakeholder engagement, and long-term value creation.