Title: The competitiveness of homestays in rural Darjeeling: a comparative study between Lepchajagat and Sittong

Authors: Diksha Lama; Akhilesh Kumar Singh

Addresses: Department of Tourism, Sikkim University, Gangtok, Sikkim, 737102, India ' Department of Tourism, Sikkim University, Gangtok, Sikkim, 737102, India

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to select, rank, and contrast the factors that influence homestays' competitiveness and success in the villages of Lepchajagat and Sittong, Darjeeling, West Bengal. Using convenience sampling, information was collected from homestay owners, employees, and tourists to assess the importance of various factors selected from previous literature and Ritchie and Crouch's (2003) model of destination competitiveness (core resources and attractors). The Garrett ranking was used to rank and compare the variables that were selected. The Mann-Whitney U test was then used for statistical validation, the test results verified similar factors ranked for competitiveness of homestays. This may be because of similarity in people, culture, geography, and terrain of the villages. Additionally, the paper draws attention to the distinctive features and tourist dynamics of each place, arguing that homestays have to be customised to each village's particular requirements and capabilities.

Keywords: homestays; factors; Sittong; Lepchajagat; destination competitiveness model.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTP.2025.148969

International Journal of Tourism Policy, 2025 Vol.15 No.4, pp.315 - 327

Received: 20 Sep 2024
Accepted: 09 Apr 2025
Published online: 06 Oct 2025 *

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