Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Tourism is actively promoting homestays and heritage-based rural accommodations in Rajasthan to attract tourists. As of July 21, 2025, 72 homestays are registered in Rajasthan. The government is providing financial assistance and training programs to encourage homestay operators, particularly in semiarid and desert-prone areas. Collaborations with the State Government aim to boost ecotourism and cultural tourism through various schemes and projects.
Key Points / Main Content:
Homestay Promotion:
* The Ministry of Tourism promotes homestays and heritage-based rural accommodations through workshops, seminars, and social media.
* 72 homestays are registered in Rajasthan via the NIDHI portal.
Incentives and Training Programs:
* Mudra Loans are available for homestays across the country, including arid regions.
* The Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan includes development of 1000 homestays with assistance up to Rs. 5 Crore per village cluster.
* The Scheme of Capacity Building for Service Providers (CBSP) provides training and certification to homestay owners and other tourism service providers.
Ecotourism and Cultural Tourism Collaboration:
* The National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) includes integrated development of pilgrimage destinations like Pushkar-Ajmer (Rs. 32.64 Crore sanctioned).
* 76 projects under Swadesh Darshan and 52 projects under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 have been sanctioned across the country.
* Projects in Rajasthan under Swadesh Darshan include:
* Desert Circuit: Development of Sambhar Lake Town (Rs. 50.01 Crore).
* Krishna Circuit: Development of Govind Dev ji temple Jaipur (Rs. 75.80 Crore).
* Spiritual Circuit: Development of Churu Salasar Balaji Jaipur (Rs. 87.05 Crore).
* Heritage Circuit: Development of Rajsamand Kumbhalgarh Fort (Rs. 70.61 Crore).
* Projects in Rajasthan under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 include:
* Bundi Spiritual Experience, Keshavraipatan (Rs. 21.65 Crore).
* Development works at Shri Khatu Shyam Ji Temple Sikar (Rs. 87.87 Crore).
* Development Works at Shri Karni Mata temple, Bikaner (Rs. 22.57 Crore).
* Development of Malaseri Dungari, Bhilwara District (Rs. 48.73 Crore).
* Under Special Assistance to States for capital investment (SASCI), 40 projects amounting to 3295.76 Crore were sanctioned. Projects in Rajasthan include:
* Development at Amber-Nahargarh and Surrounding Area in Jaipur (Rs. 49.31 Crore).
* Development at Jalmahal in Jaipur (Rs. 96.61 Crore).
Impact Analysis:
Homestay Operators:
* Impact: Opportunity to benefit from Mudra Loans, training programs, and increased tourist flow.
* Action Required: Register on the NIDHI portal, apply for available loans, and participate in training programs.
State Government of Rajasthan:
* Impact: Collaboration with the central government to boost tourism through various schemes.
* Action Required: Implement sanctioned projects under Swadesh Darshan, Swadesh Darshan 2.0 and SASCI, and facilitate the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan.
Tourism Service Providers:
* Impact: Access to training and certification programs to upgrade skills.
* Action Required: Participate in CBSP to enhance service quality.
Tribal Communities:
* Impact: Improved socio-economic conditions through the development of homestays.
* Action Required: Engage with the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan to establish and manage homestays.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tourism: The central government ministry responsible for tourism policies and initiatives in India.
Rajasthan: A state in India, focus of homestay promotion mentioned in the policy document.
SHRI RAHUL KASWAN: Member of Lok Sabha who raised the question about promotion of homestays in Rajasthan.
SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT: The Minister of Tourism who answered the question in the Lok Sabha.
Mudra Loans: Collateral-free institutional credit provided to encourage setting up of homestays across the country.
Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan: A government scheme for improving the socio-economic condition of tribal communities, including the development of homestays.
National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Augmentation Drive PRASAD: A Central Sector Scheme by the Ministry of Tourism with the objective of integrated development of identified pilgrimage destinations.
Swadesh Darshan: A scheme by the Ministry of Tourism to develop thematic tourism circuits in India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF TOURISM
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.226
ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025
PROMOTION OF HOMESTAYS IN RAJASTHAN
226. SHRI RAHUL KASWAN:
Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is promoting homestays or heritage-based
rural accommodations to attract domestic and international tourists,
and if so, the number of registered homestays supported in Rajasthan;
(b) whether any incentives or training programmes have been introduced
by the Government to encourage homestay operators in semi-arid and
desert-prone areas and if so, the detail thereof;
(c) whether the Government is collaborating with the State Government to
boost eco-tourism and cultural tourism in Rajasthan; and
(d) if so, the outcomes of such collaborations and plans for 2025–26?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a): Yes. Ministry of Tourism through its Regional Tourism offices
conducts various workshops/seminars for promoting homestays or heritage-
based rural accommodations to attract domestic and international tourists.
The same is also promoted through social media handles of Ministry of
Tourism. As per the NIDHI+ portal of the Ministry of Tourism, the number of
homestays registered in Rajasthan is 72.
(b): Yes. The Government of India has announced collateral free
institutional credit of Mudra Loans for Homestays in the Budget
Announcement for 2025-26 to encourage setting up of homestays across the
country, including semi-arid and desert prone areas.
Further, the Government approved the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram
Abhiyan for improving the socio-economic condition of tribal communities,
and development of 1000 homestays is a part of the scheme. The States/UTscan avail assistance of a maximum of Rs.5 Crore for 5-10 homestays per
village in a village cluster of 5-6 villages, subject to eligibility as per the
Guidelines issued.
The Ministry of Tourism has put in place the Scheme of “Capacity Building
for Service Providers” (CBSP) provides education, training and certification
to the tourism service providers and hospitality sector including homestay
owners, to upgrade manpower at every strata of tourism industry in order to
capitalize the vast tourism potential of the country to the fullest, and
provide professional expertise to the local populace as well as create fresh
opportunities in the tourism sector both in urban as well as rural areas.
(c) and (d): Yes. The ‘National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and
Spiritual, Augmentation Drive’ (PRASAD) was launched by the Ministry of
Tourism as a Central Sector Scheme with the objective of integrated
development of identified pilgrimage destinations. An amount of Rs. 32.64
Crore has been sanctioned for the Integrated Development of Pushkar/Ajmer
under the PRASHAD scheme.
Similarly, the Ministry has sanctioned a total number of 76 projects under
different thematic circuits, in the country under Swadesh Darshan and 52
projects under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme. The list of sanctioned
projects in Rajasthan under Swadesh Darshan and Swadesh Darshan 2.0 is
placed at Table 1 and Table 2 of ANNEXURE.
The Ministry of Tourism, in line with the directions of Department of
Expenditure, had issued Operational Guidelines and template for Detailed
Project Report for Special assistance to States for capital investment
(SASCI)- Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale to the State
Governments. Government of India sanctioned 40 projects amounting to
₹3295.76 Crore. The list of sanctioned projects in Rajasthan under SASCI is
placed at Table 3 of ANNEXURE.
************ANNEXURE
STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (c) AND (d) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED
QUESTION NO.226 ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025 PROMOTION OF HOMESTAYS
IN RAJASTHAN RAISED BY SHRI RAHUL KASWAN.
Table 1: The list of the projects in the State of Rajasthan sanctioned under
Swadesh Darshan scheme as on 24.06.2025 is as under:-
Sl. Circuit / Name of the Project Amount Amount Amount
No. Sanction Sanctioned Released Utilised
Year in ₹ Crore /Authorised in ₹ Crore
in ₹ Crore
1. D esert Development of 50.01 50.01 55.89
Circuit Sambhar Lake Town
2015-16 and Other Destinations
2. K rishna Development of 75.80 73.85 77.49
Circuit Govind Dev ji temple
(Jaipur), Khatu Shyam
2016-17 Ji (Sikar) and
Nathdwara
(Rajsamand)
3. S piritual Development of 87.05 75.03 75.03
Circuit Spiritual Circuit–
'Development of Churu
2016-17 (Salasar Balaji)-Jaipur
(Shri Samodke Balaji,
Ghatke Balaji,
Bandheke Balaji)-
Viratnagar (Bijak,
Jainnasiya, Ambika
Temple)- Bharatpur
(Kaman Region)-
Dholpur (Muchkund) -
Mehndipur Balaji-
Chittorgarh
(Sanwaliyaji)4. H eritage Development of 70.61 66.99 67.04
Circuit Heritage Circuit
Development of
2017-18 Rajsamand
(Kumbhalgarh Fort) -
Jaipur (Facade
Illumination in Jaipur
and Nahargarh Fort) -
Jhalawar (Gagron
Fort) - Chittorgarh
(Chittorgarh Fort) –
Jaisalmer (Jaisalmer
Fort) - Hanumangarh
(Gogamedi) - Udaipur
(Pratap Gaurav
Kendra) - Dholpur
(Bagh-I-Nilofor and
Purani Chawani) -
Nagaur (Meera Bai
Smarak, Merta) - Tonk
(Sunehri Kothi)
Table 2: The list of the projects in the State of Rajasthan sanctioned under
Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme as on 24.06.2025 is as under:-
Sl. Year of Destination Name of the Experience Sanctioned
No. Sanction Cost (₹ Crore)
1. 2023-24 Bundi Spiritual Experience, 21.65
Keshavraipatan
2. 2024-25 Sikar Development works at Shri 87.87
Khatu Shyam Ji Temple (Sikar)
3. 2024-25 Karni Mata Development Works at Shri 22.57
temple, Karni mata mandir, Bikaner
Bikaner
dist.
4. 2024-25 Malaseri Development of Malaseri 48.73
Dungari Dungri, Bhilwara District
(District -
Bhilwara)Table 3: The list of the projects in the State of Rajasthan sanctioned under
SASCI scheme as on 24.06.2025 is as under:-
Sl. Year of Name of the Project Sanctioned Cost
No. Sanction (₹ Crore)
1. 2024-25 Development at Amber-Nahargarh and 49.31
Surrounding Area in Jaipur
2. 2024-25 Development at Jalmahal in Jaipur 96.61
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