ITDC and Ministry of Tribal Affairs Inaugurate Capacity Building Program for Tribal Homestay Owners

The inaugural Capacity Building Program for Tribal Homestay Owners, launched by ITDC in collaboration with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, is a landmark initiative in community-based tourism.

Program launch:
Held at Kautilya Hall, Hotel Samrat, New Delhi, with the first batch of 40 participants from Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Gujarat.

New manual released:
“Tribal Homestay – Operation & Development Manual 2026” by IHM Ashok provides a structured, multilingual guide (Hindi and Gujarati included) for homestay operators.

Leadership presence:
Senior officials including Smt. Ranjana Chopra (Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs) and Ms. Mugdha Sinha (MD, ITDC) attended, underscoring government commitment.

Tourism trends:
Officials highlighted that Indian travelers increasingly seek nature-rich, less crowded destinations, making homestays a vital solution to hotel room shortages.

Vision & scale:
Inspired by the Prime Minister’s vision of one lakh homestays, ITDC aims to train 1,500 participants initially, with a “train-the-trainer” model to expand reach across states.

Collaborative framework:
The program unites the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Ministry of Tourism, and the Incredible India platform to promote sustainable tourism and tribal livelihoods.

This initiative is not just about hospitality training—it’s about empowering tribal communities, preserving traditions, and creating sustainable income streams through tourism.