EMPOWERING LOCAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH HOMESTAY TOURISM: A GOVERNANCE PERSPECTIVE ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE HIMALAYAN REGION

Abstract

The study examines how Local Governance (LG) and Community Empowerment (CE) contribute to supporting Sustainable Development (SD) through Homestay Tourism (HT) in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, located in the Himalayas. The primary objective is to investigate the impact of local institutions and community participation on sustainable performance in rural tourism settings. The study employed a mixed-methods research design, combining quantitative and qualitative data collected from 230 homestay establishments across Garhwal and Kumaon. Descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression were used to analyze the data in both SPSS and Excel. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's Alpha, and construct validity was evaluated through expert reviews and pilot studies. Findings indicate that LG, CE, and SD have a strong positive relationship with HT, with HT serving as an important mediating variable. Good governance and community-based involvement were correlated with higher livelihood diversification, strengthened cultural heritage, and improved environmental management. Additionally, communities with stronger governance structures had higher sustainability ratings. Therefore, homestay tourism can become an effective example of local-level sustainable development under conditions of responsible governance and capacity-building efforts. The results would contribute to policy discussions as well as the academic debate on tourism-based development by pre-empting the notions of local empowerment, state-based coordination, and the supremacy of sustainability-focused planning in mountain areas.