More than 490 homestays are now operational across Meghalaya
Meghalaya is witnessing rapid growth in tourism, with tourist arrivals increasing from around 1.2 million in 2018 to more than 1.6 million currently. As visitor demand continues to rise, the state government is strengthening its community-based tourism model through homestay initiatives aimed at empowering local families, expanding accommodation facilities and creating employment opportunities. The government now plans to establish 3,000 new homestays and generate around 15,000 direct and indirect jobs by 2028.
In a press statement, Tourism Ministry of Meghalaya mentions that Shillong recently topped Skyscanner’s 2025 report as India’s most-searched travel destination under Meghalaya’s tourism campaign Symphony in the Mist. Tourist arrivals in the state have increased from around 1.2 million in 2018 to more than 1.6 million currently, while the government has set a target of attracting 2.1 million visitors by 2028.
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The momentum received another boost in April 2026 when NITI Aayog identified Meghalaya as one of India’s few year-round travel destinations with no clear off-season. The report highlighted the state’s living root bridges, extensive cave systems and indigenous cultural traditions, adds the statement.
new homestays can receive subsidies of up to 70 pc capped at INR 700,000
The statement adds that as tourist footfall increased, the state faced growing accommodation shortages across several high-potential destinations. Instead of relying only on large hotel infrastructure, the government shifted focus toward empowering local households through homestay tourism.
According to Meghalaya Tourism, the government had launched the Meghalaya Tourism Homestay Scheme in convergence with the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) in September 2023. The scheme offers financial assistance of up to 70 pc for projects worth up to INR 1 million, including a 35 pc subsidy under PMEGP and another 35 pc contribution from the state tourism department, adds the statement.
According to the statement, the response was significant, with 900 applications sanctioned under the scheme. More than 490 homestays are now operational across Meghalaya, creating nearly 1,000 rooms and generating around 1,500 livelihood opportunities.
Building on this success, the government launched the Chief Minister’s Meghalaya Homestay Mission in September 2025. The mission aims to establish 3,000 new homestays and create around 15,000 direct and indirect jobs by 2028, adds the statement.
The statement adds that under the mission, new homestays can receive subsidies of up to 70 pc capped at INR 700,000, while existing homestays are eligible for upgradation incentives of up to INR 200,000 to improve visitor experience and service quality. Officials said 80 applications have already been approved across 10 districts.
The policy is also expected to play a major role during the 39th National Games, where Meghalaya plans to accommodate visitors in homestays instead of traditional Games Villages, adds the statement.