Women making Karnataka’s HomeStays great stay options for budget travel

Women have always been involved in large number of activities that contribute to powering and serving Karnataka's tourism industry indirectly. Karnataka has been an early starter in attracting women to the tourism sector when it extended 5 percent financial assistance to women entrepreneurs who intend to start hotels. This was initiated in 1992 under Tourism Policy to open HomeStays in Karnataka especially in Coorg Coffee estates and Plantations. Today, Women entrepreneurs are the forefront of the concept of home-stay springing up in Kodagu or Coorg and Mangalore districts. There are nearly 600 home Stays in Kodagu and around 75 in Chikmagalur districts that are being operated currently in many cases by Women. They provide tourists a homely experience through local food, cuisine and awareness to Karnataka’s culture. Coorgi’s and especially women folk are great hosts and they like meeting people and socializing.