Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC) has signed a MoU with Rightstay, an alternate accommodation marketplace by MakeMyTrip, to promote the concept of homestays in the state. The MoU was signed between ATDC and Rightstay in Guwahati.
Under this agreement, Rightstay will lend its expertise to the state’s tourism body to jointly promote homestays and enhance tourism in the state through packages for Assam. ATDC will also work with MakeMyTrip to develop custom packages with MMT which will be promoted to enhance tourism in the state.
In order to promote local tourism in the state, ATDC intends to encourage organised, community based, environmentally and socially responsible Homestays across the region. Homestay is any traditional accommodation available/constructed aesthetically with best amenities and highest safety norms for the tourists. The objective to encourage such Homestays is so as to create a participative, sustainable eco-system which provides an alternate source of income for the locals and enhancing their livelihoods without straining their existing resources, thereby creating sustainable livelihood and creating large scale employment.
Speaking on the partnership, Deepak Tuli, Senior Vice President – Growth Business, MakeMyTrip said, “It is our honour to be associated with Assam Tourism Development Corporation. The state of Assam has 200+ properties listed on our platform and homestays account for 40 per cent of the total properties on the Rightstay. We look to grow aggressively in Assam and become the first OTA to heavily promote upcoming regions and homestays in the state. The state is a travel-friendly destination around the year and we look forward to making it one of our top markets for Rightstay. We have already had a head-start with more than 12,000 properties across 200 cities live on Rightstay with plans to end the year with 100,000+ properties.”
Anurag Singh, MD, ATDC said, “Assam Tourism will focus on quality homestays in the entire state. The rural Assam is a right place for tourists to experience the Assamese flavour of culture, nature and hospitality. Tourism Department of Assam has already launched a rural homestay scheme called “Aamaar Aalohi”. The focus area is to encourage rural and semi-urban people to participate in tourism and self-generate income by managing a homestay. We are happy that MakeMyTrip has come forward to engage with us to promote homestays and also develop good package for Assam.”
