Goa, July 29 -- The Goa government has revised its Homestay Policy to better support local communities and promote rural tourism, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte announced on Monday.

Speaking to reporters during the Monsoon Session of the state assembly, Khaunte said the updated policy addresses critical financial and accessibility issues faced by rural households, especially women, who are central to the initiative.

"One of the biggest challenges was the reimbursement model, which required beneficiaries to spend from their own pockets first and claim the grant later," Khaunte explained. "This created a major hurdle for many rural families, particularly women. We've now shifted to a direct grant model."

Under the revised scheme, eligibl...