How These Rural Women Turned Their Homestays Into Profitable Tourism Business In Madhya Pradesh?

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Rural stays have emerged as popular tourist experiences in Madhya Pradesh. Winners of the ‘Best Gramstay’ award of the Madhya Pradesh Government said that changing priorities of tourists is drawing guests to their ventures.

They also say that their guests are from all over the country, besides from abroad and that they are earning a decent income. 

The owners of the three top awardees - all women - were feted by the chief minister Mohan Yadav at Grameen Rang, Paryatan Sang Utsav at Kushabhau Thakre Convention Centre (Minto Hall) in the city on Wednesday.  Free Press talked with them on the sidelines of the event.

1700-member family

"My gramstay is called Mahua Lake View Homestay and is located in Ladpura Khas village, about 4.5 km from Orchha. We had launched the project in 2021 with an investment of around Rs 11 lakh. That was the time of Covid-10 pandemic and naturally, we had no guests. But the pandemic also brought about a change in the priorities of the tourists."

"They want something new, they want to spend time in a peaceful place, somewhere where they can count stars at. Around 1,700 persons have so far stayed in our homestay. They all are now part of our family. There are some 10-12 families which visit us every year. During tourist season (September-March) we are able to make between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 1.5 lakh every month. My husband, my son and I look after the work. We have four permanent staffers also. Even the Governor of Madhya Pradesh has stayed with us. But we treat all our guests equally. No special treatment for VIPs." 

-Uma  Pathak, first prize winner

Only organic, homegrown veggies

"We had begun with one homestay in 2020 but the response was so great that we have not set up three more. My homestay is called Kamla Gramstay and is located at Radhapura in Niwari district. Once winter ends, tourists start coming from places as far as Delhi and Bengaluru. The main attraction of our homestay is that it is located in the middle of our field which has around 500 fruit-bearing trees and a dairy. We also grow organic vegetables. We use only the produce from our farm to cook food for the guests. Ten members of my family handle the work and we earn about Rs 1 lakh per month during tourist season."

-Kamla Kushwaha, second prize winner

We cook what they want

Our homestay is called ‘Girija Gramstay’ and is located at Khari in Sehore district. I am illiterate and knew nothing about homestays or how they are run. But once we launched it about two years back, I soon realised that what we are supposed to do is to take care of guests - something which we have been doing at our home. People come there to celebrate birthdays and festivals. We cook whatever traditional food they want to eat. Dal-Baati is the favourite dish.

-Girija Maran, third prize winner