BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 16th February 2026: In a bid to give a fresh push to community-led tourism, the Tripura Rural Livelihood Mission (TRLM) has launched a new initiative aimed at developing homestay facilities in key tourist locations across the state.
As part of this effort, nine Block Development Officers (BDOs) undertook an exposure visit to Himachal Pradesh to study successful homestay models that have strengthened rural livelihoods. During their visit, the team closely observed the operations of Khushboo Homestay, managed by Self-Help Group (SHG) member Dhani Devi, to understand how community participation drives sustainable tourism.
The officers also visited Shiv Shakti SHG under Gram Panchayat Shaleen in Village Brod, Block Naggar of Kullu district. Discussions focused on infrastructure planning, hospitality standards, sanitation practices, revenue generation strategies, and the overall management of tourism ventures by SHGs.
Encouraged by the outcomes in Himachal Pradesh, TRLM is now drafting a comprehensive roadmap to replicate similar homestay models in Tripura. The proposed locations include scenic and culturally significant destinations such as Jampui Hills, Unakoti, Dumbur Lake, Chabimura, Kalajhari Hills, Matabari, Manu Bankul, and Sepahijala.
Officials said the initiative is part of TRLM’s broader vision to expand livelihood opportunities through tourism-linked economic activities. For the 2026–27 financial year, a budget proposal exceeding ₹70 crore has been submitted to the Ministry of Rural Development to strengthen livelihood infrastructure, including community-run tourism facilities.
The homestay programme is expected to create sustainable income avenues for rural households, particularly empowering women-led SHGs, while positioning Tripura as an eco-friendly and culturally vibrant tourism destination.
Through this pioneering step, TRLM aims to adapt the successful community-based tourism model of Himachal Pradesh and usher in a new era of rural tourism development in Tripura.
