Kerala's homestay tourism has been a significant contributor to the state's sustainable and responsible tourism industry, with over 5,141 registered homestays in the state, which provide a major livelihood to the rural population, while promoting cultural tourism(Ministry of Tourism). As homestay tourism is being promoted following the Responsible Tourism Mission of Kerala Tourism and the post COVID-19 recovery, work-life balance (WLB) of homestay operators - who also operate as a host, entrepreneur, house manager and cultural ambassador - is an important and relatively less researched area. The present study examines the work-life balance among homestay operators in some of the districts in Kerala through a qualitative research methodology using in-depth interviews of 30 homestay operators in Wayanad, Munnar (Idukki), Alappuzha and Fort Kochi (Ernakulam). Themes that emerged from the thematic analysis include the workload, family support, emotional labour, Kerala's hospitality culture and coping strategies. Operators' work-life challenges include the cyclical nature of tourism, striking balance between work and home, emotional work and the Keralite hospitality culture. The strategies used by operators include boundary setting, support of extended family, Kudumbashree community groups and technology to manage bookings. The research offers insights for Kerala tourism, policy makers and stakeholders on ways to improve the quality of life of operators while ensuring the sustainability of the homestay industry in Kerala.
EV et al. (Thu,) studied this question.