Gujarat has launched its Gujarat Tourism Year 2026 27 initiative with a major focus on rural and community based tourism. As part of the programme, modern homestay facilities will be promoted in 100 selected villages across the state. The initiative was officially announced on World Tourism Day, September 27, 2026, at an event held in GIFT City, Gandhinagar. The village homestay programme is designed to combine traditional Gujarati culture and local identity with modern facilities for visitors. The initiative also focuses on creating livelihood opportunities for rural households and women while giving domestic and international travellers an opportunity to experience local food, customs and everyday rural life. This programme represents a significant shift in how Gujarat is approaching tourism development, moving beyond established urban destinations to bring villages directly into the tourism economy.
What Is the 100 Village Homestay Project
The 100 village project aims to develop homestays in selected villages across Gujarat. The homestays will be upgraded while maintaining the traditional character of the villages. Local architecture, culture and traditional identity will remain an important part of the experience, while visitors will have access to modern and consumer ready facilities. The approach is intended to make rural areas a more active part of Gujarat’s tourism ecosystem rather than concentrating tourism only around established urban destinations. By bringing visitors into village communities, the programme creates a more distributed model of tourism that benefits a wider range of locations across the state.
Focus on Rural and Community Based Tourism
A major objective of the initiative is to expand tourism into rural communities. The programme is designed to create opportunities for rural households, indigenous communities and women to participate directly in tourism related activities. By bringing visitors into village communities, the initiative can connect tourism with local accommodation, food, traditions and everyday life. The programme also aims to support regional employment through tourism related activities. This community focused approach ensures that the economic benefits of tourism reach the local level rather than being concentrated in a few urban centers.
Traditional Culture With Modern Facilities
The homestay upgrades are planned around a combination of traditional character and modern amenities. Selected villages will retain their local architecture, cultural identity and traditional atmosphere while homestays receive facilities suitable for visitors. This approach allows travellers to experience a rural setting while still having access to modern comforts. The programme also places importance on preserving local heritage as tourism expands into more villages. This balance between tradition and modernity is central to the programme’s design and is intended to create a unique tourism experience that cannot be replicated in conventional hotels or resorts.
A Closer Experience of Gujarati Rural Life
The homestay programme is designed to offer travellers a more direct cultural experience. Visitors will have an opportunity to stay with local families and experience traditional Gujarati cuisine, customs and everyday rural life. Instead of simply visiting a destination for a short period, the homestay model allows travellers to spend time within the local community. This creates a closer connection between visitors and the people who live in the selected villages. For many travellers, this immersive experience is more memorable and meaningful than traditional tourism, as it provides genuine insight into the local way of life.
Homestay Rating System in Gujarat
Registered homestays are assessed through a tiered rating system managed within the tourism ecosystem of the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd. The system has three categories.
| Rating Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Silver Homestays | Standard tier focusing on basic comforts and cleanliness |
| Gold Homestays | Higher tier including premium amenities and mid level comforts |
| Platinum Homestays | Top tier focusing on luxury rural experiences |
Before the expansion to 100 villages, Gujarat had 270 actively registered homestays. These included 255 Silver, 8 Gold and 7 Platinum properties. The rating system provides visitors with a clear understanding of the level of facilities they can expect at different homestays.
Training Support for Homestay Families
Training is an important part of the programme. Host families will receive short term hospitality training along with guidance related to health, hygiene and soft skills. This training is intended to help rural families manage visitor stays and provide a better hospitality experience. The focus on training also connects the homestay programme with skill development and employment opportunities in rural areas. By equipping local hosts with professional hospitality skills, the programme ensures that visitors receive quality service while local families gain valuable capabilities that can benefit them beyond tourism as well.
Marketing Assistance for Approved Homestays
Approved homestays will receive marketing assistance through the state’s tourism system. The programme includes listing approved homes on the official Gujarat Tourism Portal, giving participating properties an opportunity to gain visibility among travellers. This can also make it easier for visitors to identify homestays that have been approved within the programme. The marketing support is particularly important for rural hosts who may not have the resources or expertise to promote their properties independently, ensuring that they can compete effectively in the tourism market.
Digital Registration for Rural Hosts
The programme also includes a digital registration process for prospective rural hosts. Property owners interested in participating can register their properties digitally through the Gujarat Commissioner of Tourism Portal. The registration process is intended to provide formal state support and incentives to eligible rural hosts. This creates a structured process for bringing individual village properties into the tourism ecosystem. The digital approach simplifies the registration process and makes it more accessible for rural property owners who may be unfamiliar with traditional bureaucratic procedures.
How the Homestay Project Can Support Local Communities
The 100 village initiative connects tourism with local economic participation.
- Rural households can become part of the tourism sector by providing accommodation and hospitality services
- Women and local communities are identified as groups that can gain access to direct livelihood opportunities through the programme
- The initiative combines tourism development with community participation rather than treating villages only as places for tourists to visit
- Local food, customs and traditional products can reach a wider audience through visitor experiences
The programme is designed to ensure that tourism growth translates into tangible benefits for the communities that host visitors.
Gujarat Tourism Year 2026 27 Includes More Than Homestays
The Gujarat Tourism Year 2026 27 initiative also includes developments in film tourism and sports tourism. A Gujarat Film Shooting Permission Portal has been introduced as a single window digital portal designed to speed up permissions and no objection certificates for film shooting across the state. The programme also includes major sporting events intended to connect tourism with international sports.
Gujarat Film Shooting Permission Portal
The new film shooting permission portal is designed to provide a single digital platform for obtaining permissions and NOCs related to film production in Gujarat. The fast track system is intended to simplify the process of obtaining the required permissions for filming across the state. This forms part of the broader effort to develop cinematic tourism and strengthen Gujarat’s position as a destination connected with the entertainment sector. By making it easier for filmmakers to obtain permissions, the state hopes to attract more film productions, which can in turn boost tourism and local economic activity.
Sports Tourism Events in Gujarat
Sports tourism is another part of the Gujarat Tourism Year 2026 27 programme.
- A HYROX fitness championship is scheduled to take place in Gandhinagar in November 2026
- An Ironman event is also planned in Ahmedabad in February 2027
- These events are being included within the state’s broader tourism programme
- The events are intended to connect international sporting activities with tourism
By hosting major sporting events, Gujarat aims to attract visitors from around the world while showcasing its capacity to organize international level competitions.
Tourism and Employment Opportunities
The tourism programme places significant attention on employment and skill development. The homestay initiative can create opportunities for rural families involved in accommodation and hospitality. Training programmes can help participating hosts improve their hospitality, health, hygiene and communication skills. The wider tourism programme also includes support for tourism related skills and activities, creating a broader connection between tourism growth and local employment. This emphasis on skill development ensures that the benefits of tourism extend beyond immediate economic gains to include long term capacity building within local communities.
Why the 100 Village Homestay Initiative Matters
The 100 village homestay programme represents a shift toward bringing rural communities more directly into Gujarat’s tourism network. The initiative combines three important elements: traditional culture, modern hospitality and local economic participation.
- For travellers, the programme can provide opportunities to experience village life, traditional food and local customs
- For participating communities, tourism can create direct opportunities through accommodation and related services
- For Gujarat’s tourism sector, the programme expands the range of experiences available beyond conventional tourism destinations
This three way benefit model is what makes the initiative particularly significant for the state’s tourism development strategy.
What Visitors Can Expect From Participating Homestays
Visitors staying at participating homestays can expect the experience to combine local character with modern facilities. The programme places emphasis on cleanliness, hospitality and basic visitor comforts while maintaining the traditional identity of the selected villages. The cultural experience can include traditional Gujarati cuisine, customs and everyday rural life. The rating system also gives visitors a way to understand the general level of facilities offered by registered properties through Silver, Gold and Platinum categories. This transparency helps travellers make informed choices about their accommodation while encouraging hosts to improve their facilities and services.
Conclusion
Gujarat Tourism Year 2026 27 is placing rural tourism at the centre of a new homestay initiative covering 100 selected villages across the state. The programme aims to preserve traditional architecture, culture and local identity while introducing modern facilities for visitors. It also focuses on creating direct livelihood opportunities for rural households, indigenous communities and women. The homestay ecosystem includes Silver, Gold and Platinum rating categories, along with hospitality training, health and hygiene guidance, marketing assistance and digital registration. The wider tourism programme also includes the Gujarat Film Shooting Permission Portal and major sports tourism events such as HYROX in Gandhinagar and an Ironman event in Ahmedabad. By connecting rural communities, local culture, hospitality and tourism, the Gujarat Tourism Year 2026 27 initiative is designed to expand the state’s tourism experience beyond traditional destinations and bring more villages into the tourism economy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the Gujarat Tourism Year 2026 27 initiative?
A1. Gujarat Tourism Year 2026 27 is a state tourism programme launched on World Tourism Day, September 27, 2026, that focuses on rural and community based tourism, including homestay development in 100 selected villages.
Q2. How many villages will be covered under the homestay project?
A2. Homestay facilities will be promoted in 100 selected villages across Gujarat.
Q3. What are the homestay rating categories in Gujarat?
A3. Registered homestays are rated under three categories: Silver (basic comforts and cleanliness), Gold (premium amenities and mid level comforts), and Platinum (luxury rural experiences).
Q4. What support will homestay families receive?
A4. Host families will receive hospitality training, health and hygiene guidance, soft skills development, marketing assistance through the Gujarat Tourism Portal, and digital registration support.
Q5. What other initiatives are part of Gujarat Tourism Year 2026 27?
A5. The programme also includes the Gujarat Film Shooting Permission Portal for faster film production permissions, along with sports tourism events like the HYROX fitness championship in Gandhinagar (November 2026) and an Ironman event in Ahmedabad (February 2027).