Although the government has classified homestays in the State into different categories, there is no system in place for tourists to comprehend the different categories of homestays based on their amenities.
The Tourism department introduced the concept of approved and classified homestays in 2015 as part of promoting homestays providing homely experiences and fostering experiential tourism.
Later, based on the amenities and quality of the accommodation, they were classified into three categories: mainly diamond, gold, and silver.
The department has also listed the approved homestays on the official website of Kerala Tourism. Over the years, around 1,200 homestays had been approved and classified by the authorities. However, online booking sites have been listing around 5,000 homestays in Kerala.
The tourists visiting the State have no means to know whether the homestay suggested on the site is a classified one or not.
