Exploring the Role of Community Homestays in Reducing Rural Migration in Uttarakhand: An NVivo-Based Qualitative Analysis

Introduction: Migration is a natural process of human beings. However, forced migration may disrupt the local socio-economic environment. A vast proportion of the population from the Himalayan range of rural Uttarakhand has reported forced migration to nearby cities in search of livelihood or a better lifestyle. Objectives: This study attempts to investigate the root cause and consequences of the rural out-migration of Uttarakhand and people's perception of community-based homestay tourism as a solution. Methods: The study used an exploratory qualitative research paradigm to underpin in-depth realities. Data was collected through a semi-structured survey questionnaire. Ten in-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted and audio recorded using a non-probability sampling technique. To analyse the data, thematic analysis was performed using NVivo software. Results: The study found that the local community has a positive attitude towards homestay ventures as a solution to the migration issue. However, they have faced many challenges while operating homestay ventures, which need immediate attention and intervention from policymakers and the government. Conclusions: The study investigates the transformative role of community homestays as a solution to rural migration through a qualitative study. Key themes such as ‘Cultural preservation’, ‘Job creation within the village’, ‘Support local businesses’, and ‘Sustainable development’ were identified as factors in retaining the rural workforce through homestay business. Future studies can explore quantitative models to measure the socio-economic impact of homestays on migration.