ORIGINAL DATA REPORT — GUJARAT TOURISM REGISTRATIONS
State of Homestays in Gujarat — 2026 Registration Data & Category Report
270 homestays registered across Gujarat. Only 8 hold Gold status. Homeland Stay is one of them.
Gujarat's Homestay Industry, By the Numbers
As of September 2026, Gujarat has 270 officially registered homestays under the state's Homestay Registration Policy — a framework built to give tourists a verified, standardized alternative to hotels. With Ahmedabad heading into a decade of major events (2030 Commonwealth Games preparations, a possible 2036 Olympics bid, and IPL/international matches at Narendra Modi Stadium), knowing which homestays are actually government-registered — and at what level — matters more than ever for anyone booking a stay.
The 3 Official Categories: Silver, Gold & Platinum
Gujarat Tourism classifies every registered homestay into one of three tiers based on an official facilities and services checklist, set out in Industries & Mines Department Resolution No. PVS-102020-HS-2-S (2020)
- Silver Category Entry-level registered tier — comfortable rooms with quality bedding, minimum 120 sq ft, washrooms may be shared (1 per 4 beds). 255 of Gujarat's 270 registered homestays (94.4%) hold this category.
- Gold Category Attached private bathroom mandatory in every room, plus additional comfort amenities beyond Silver. Only 8 of 270 statewide (3.0%) hold Gold — Homeland Stay is one of them.
- Platinum Category Gujarat's top registered tier — minimum 200 sq ft rooms, king-size beds, in-room safe, workstation, modern TV. Only 7 of 270 statewide (2.6%) hold this category.
Heading: Registered Homestays by District
Bar chart showing Gujarat's 270 registered homestays split into 255 Silver, 8 Gold, and 7 Platinum category homestays
Only 15 of Gujarat's 270 registered homestays hold Gold or Platinum status. Homeland Stay is Gold Category. Source: AIR News / Gujarat Tourism, Sept 2026.
- Devbhoomi Dwarka — 127 (47.0% of the state total, driven by Dwarkadhish Temple pilgrimage traffic)
- Gir Somnath — 49 (18.1%, driven by Somnath Temple and Gir forest tourism)
- Kutch — 22 (8.1%)
- Narmada — 14 (5.2%)
- Junagadh — 11 (4.1%)
- Ahmedabad — 8 (3.0%)
- Vadodara — 8 (3.0%)
- Gandhinagar — 1 (0.4%)
- Other districts — remaining ~30 (11.1%), not individually itemized in the source report
Source: Divya Bhaskar, Ahmedabad City edition, 10 September 2026
Bar chart showing district-wise registered homestay counts in Gujarat, led by Devbhoomi Dwarka and Gir Somnath
Ahmedabad has just 8 of Gujarat's 270 registered homestays — fewer than pilgrimage-tourism districts like Devbhoomi Dwarka and Gir Somnath.
Where Homeland Stay Fits In
Homeland Stay is registered with the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat under the Gold category (Registration Order No. COT/HOMESTAY/2026/123), valid through June 2029 — one of just 8 Gold-category homestays in the entire state, and one of only 8 registered homestays of any category in Ahmedabad.
Gujarat Tourism Approved Homestay
Before You Book: Is It Actually a Registered Homestay?
Most travelers compare price and photos — almost nobody asks whether a homestay is actually government-registered. It matters more than it seems. If something goes wrong during your stay — theft, an accident, a billing dispute — an unregistered property has no police verification on file and no government inspection record, which makes it far harder to support an insurance claim or a legal complaint after the fact. A registered homestay like Homeland Stay's Gold Category certification means your stay already has an official Gujarat Tourism record behind it — worth confirming before you pay, not after something goes wrong.
| Feature | Homeland Stay (Gold Category) | Standard 3-4 Star Hotel | Standard Rented Accommodation/Airbnb | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gujarat Tourism Registration | ✅ Registered, Gold Category | ✅ Licensed under Hotel Act | ❌ No tourism department registration | ||
| Category Publicly Verifiable | ✅ Yes, certificate on file | ⚠️ Star rating often self-declared | ❌ No official category | ||
| Police Verification of Owner | ✅ Mandatory, on record | ✅ Standard requirement | ❌ Not required | ||
| Government Site Inspection | ✅ Periodic, unannounced | ✅ Periodic | ❌ None | ||
| Guest ID Compliance | ✅ Full compliance incl. Form C | ✅ Full compliance | ⚠️ Varies by host | ||
| Entire Floor to Your Group | ✅ Always | ❌ Shared corridors/floors | ⚠️ Depends on listing | ||
| Insurance/Corporate Claim Viability | ✅ High — backed by registration | ✅ High | ❌ Often rejected — no paper trail |
8 Expert Tips to Choose the Right Homestay
Homeland Stay vs. Hotel vs. Airbnb
How many registered homestays are there in Gujarat?
270, as of September 2026, under the Gujarat Homestay Policy 2020 administered by the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat.
What are the categories of homestays in Gujarat, and how many fall into each?
Three tiers — Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Of Gujarat's 270 registered homestays, 255 are Silver, 8 are Gold, and 7 are Platinum.
How many registered homestays are there in Ahmedabad?
8, per a September 2026 report — fewer than pilgrimage-tourism districts like Devbhoomi Dwarka (127) and Gir Somnath (49).
What's the difference between a Gold and Silver category homestay in Gujarat?
A Gold category homestay must have an attached private bathroom in every room plus added comfort amenities. A Silver category homestay may have shared washrooms and offers more basic amenities at an affordable rate.
Why should I check if a homestay is registered before booking?
If something goes wrong during your stay — theft, an accident, a billing dispute — a registered homestay has police verification and government inspection records to support your insurance or legal claim. An unregistered listing usually has no such paper trail, making claims much harder to prove.
Is Homeland Stay officially registered with Gujarat Tourism?
Yes — Gold Category, Registration Order No. COT/HOMESTAY/2026/123, valid through June 2029.
Why is homestay demand rising in Gujarat right now?
Ahmedabad's preparations for the 2030 Commonwealth Games, a possible 2036 Olympics bid, and IPL/international matches at Narendra Modi Stadium are all expected to increase demand for verified accommodation.