Questionnaire for Homestay Survey PART-II

Dept. of Geography, Gour Mahavidyalaya

Field Survey Instrument — Homestay Tourism, North Bengal Hills

Field Questionnaire

Homestay Tourism in North Bengal Hill Regions

Opportunities and Challenges

Study Area: Kalimpong District, West Bengal

PART — II

Survey Date

Village

GPS Coordinates (if available)

Saved Responses: 0

Section E

Offbeat Destination and Host–Guest Dynamics

E1. Is This Destination Considered Offbeat / Alternative?

Yes No Not Sure

E2. If Yes, Primary Reasons (Tick all applicable)

Less tourist crowd Not on standard tour circuits Absence of commercialisation Pristine natural setting and scenic beauty Unique cultural experience Difficult to access Recently discovered Other

E3. Approximate Year This Destination First Gained Offbeat Popularity

E4. Who Played the Leading Role in Making It Popular?

Individual entrepreneur Local community / SHG NGO State Government Travel blogger / media Forest / Wildlife Dept.

Other:

E5. Have Tourists Caused Harm to Local Culture / Community Relations?

Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently

If Yes, briefly describe:

E6. Do Tourists Generally Respect Local Customs and Dress Norms?

Always Mostly Sometimes Rarely

Section F

Environmental Management

F1. Have You Imposed Any Rules / Guidelines for Tourists?

Yes No

If Yes, list key guidelines:

F2. Waste Disposal System at Your Homestay

Local collection Self-managed composting Shared village system Biogas plant No formal system Dumped in forest / river

F3. Eco-Friendly Practices Followed (Tick all applicable)

Biodegradable materials Plastic-free zone Rainwater harvesting Solar energy Organic kitchen garden No single-use plastic policy

F4. Environmental Problems Observed Due to Tourism (Tick all applicable)

Plastic / solid waste Water pollution Noise pollution Wildlife disturbance Deforestation Soil erosion None observed

F5. Do Tourists Generally Respect Environmental Guidelines?

Always Mostly Sometimes Rarely

F6. Have Tourists Caused Damage to the Environment?

Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently

If Yes, briefly describe:

Section G

Socio-Economic Impact and Gender Role

G1. Primary Occupation of Owner (Before Tourism)

Farming Tea Garden Worker Forest Labourer Service Trade / Business Unemployed Transport business

Other:

G2. Other Current Sources of Income (Tick all applicable)

Agriculture Tea Cultivation Animal Husbandry Horticulture (Cardamom / Orange etc.) Service Remittance from migrant family member Trade / Business Transport business

Other:

G3. Standard of Living — Before and After Tourism

Likert Scale: 1 = Very Poor → 5 = Very Good

Parameter	Before Tourism	After Tourism
Overall standard of living	—12345	—12345
Household income	—12345	—12345
Food security	—12345	—12345
Children's education access	—12345	—12345
Housing quality	—12345	—12345
Healthcare access	—12345	—12345
Social status and self-confidence	—12345	—12345

G4. How Much Has Tourism Boosted Your Family's Income / Well-being?

1 = Not at all → 5 = Significantly

1 2 3 4 5

G5. Approximate Monthly Income from Homestay

Peak Season

₹

Off-Season

₹

Annual Average

₹

G6. Household Appliances Acquired After Tourism Income

Appliance	Present?	Acquired After Tourism Income?
Refrigerator	Yes	Yes
Washing Machine	Yes	Yes
Television	Yes	Yes
Smartphone	Yes	Yes
Laptop / Computer	Yes	Yes
Air Cooler / Heater	Yes	Yes
Solar Panel	Yes	Yes
Water Purifier	Yes	Yes

G7. Female Participation in Homestay Operations

Yes — Leading role Yes — Shared role Partial No

G8. If Yes, Roles Played by Female Members (Tick all applicable)

Cooking Housekeeping Guest reception Financial management Marketing Local guiding Craft production

G9. Income Sharing with Female Members

Equal share Fixed amount Paid as household expenses No direct payment

Other:

G10. Female Members' Decision-Making Authority

Complete authority Shared authority Consulted but not deciding No authority

Section H

Challenges, Policy Awareness, and Suggestions

H1. Major Challenges in Running Your Homestay

Rank Top 3 — enter 1 (Most Severe), 2, or 3 in the dropdown. Leave blank if not in top 3.

Challenge	Rank
Poor road connectivity	—123
Unreliable electricity / water supply	—123
Limited internet / digital access	—123
Seasonal income fluctuation	—123
Difficulty in marketing and promotion	—123
Lack of government support	—123
Bureaucratic difficulties in registration	—123
Political instability / bandhs / agitations	—123
Lack of capital for improvement	—123
Waste management problems	—123
Any other:	—123

H2. Government Support Received

Financial grant Training Marketing support Infrastructure None received

H3. Awareness of West Bengal Homestay Tourism Policy (2022)

Fully aware Partially aware Not aware

H4. Your Key Suggestions for Development of This Destination

H5. Suggestions to the State Government / Tourism Department

Student's Observations

Field Assessments by the Surveyor

1. General Condition of the Homestay (Student's Assessment)

Excellent Good Average Below Average Poor

2. General Condition of the Locality (Student's Assessment)

Excellent Good Average Below Average Poor

3. Purity of the Natural Settings (Student's Assessment)

Excellent Good Average Below Average Poor

4. Changes Made to the Natural Settings (Student's Assessment)

Heavily Sufficiently Moderately Slightly Not at all

Additional Comments (If Any)

Certification

Signature of Student

Date

Department of Geography, Gour Mahavidyalaya  ·  Field Survey Instrument — Homestay Tourism, Kalimpong District, West Bengal  ·  Part II