Abstract
Homestays have become a sustainable accommodation option in the tourism industry. With roots in the ancient period, the revival of homestays brings an eco-friendly alternative to visitors and the local community. The agglomeration of the fringed existence of this business will result in a more significant profit and focused policymaking opportunity for governmental and non-governmental organizations. The observations in the study indicated a need for analysis of homestay clusters. This study systematically reviews the existing literature aiming to provide specifications needed for management of homestay clusters in India. This chapter identifies guidelines and has indicated external and internal determinants for an organized homestay business. The factors in the formation of agglomeration are an integrated effort driven by local community participation and appropriate government intervention for regional sustainable growth and development.
TopBackground
According to Boullón’s Theory of Touristic Space (2001), the territorial distribution large surface area of a destination can be bifurcated into various components such as zones, complexes, clusters, or distribution centers. Tourism clusters are “…a tourist nucleus connected to a network of roads, a factor that changes its spatial situation. This is the phase during which the nuclei consolidate their operations by constructing a tourism business”. Further, Lohmann and Netto (2016) explains that the three primary considerations for forming tourism clusters are; agglomeration, affinity, and articulation. Here, agglomeration stresses the willingness of closely located organizations to establish an alliance and facilitate the exchange of products associated with tourism activities. Affinity accommodates an umbrella for all the primary, secondary, and associated tourism organizations involved in the cluster's functioning. Later, communication between the related enterprises is required for the required channel to function. The geographical affinity of the organization can be characterized through spatial models. The consideration of network and hub, and spoke model as nodal functions in spatial patterns of tourist destinations is elaborated precisely by Hoyle and Knowles (1998), “centrality and intermediation spatial qualities [which] increase the importance and levels of traffic hubs strategically located within the transport system.” This can further be understood by Lue et al.’s model (1993) regarding spatial patterns for pleasure trips. It can be considered the reference for forming homestay clusters coinciding with the existing circuits in the state.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Associated Tourism Elements: These are the supporting infrastructure and activities for the functioning of the Homestay business. For instance, farm-to-table, guided walks, and workshops.
Government Intervention: The public sector’s role in uplifting the local community by introducing policies and reforms in the tourism and hospitality industry.
Hosts: They are the local community directly involved in tourist activities and constantly in contact with tourists visiting the destination, making them responsible for the overall experience.
Production Factor: These are a destination's promotional features that set it apart from other business counterparts and connect it through a theme or spatial proximity.
Theme-Based Circuits: This kind of circuit is prevalent in the tourism and hospitality industry and is considered a production factor for promoting the connected theme (such as religion, geographical, cultural, and many more) of a country or tourist destination.
Local Community: The people residing in tourist destinations directly or indirectly, voluntarily, or involuntarily involved in tourist activities, are known as the local community.
Clustered Homestay: The agglomeration of homestays connected by spatial proximity, theme, or geographical location. They share the labor force, localize the knowledge spillover, and links supplier to their benefit.