“HOM3CIRCUIT”: Analyzing Listing Patterns in Homestay Accommodation

Abstract

Tourism is one of the 6 main income generating sectors of Sri Lanka. While the industry was no stranger to the local man even during troubled times like the 30 year war, it didn’t flourish as it did from the period of 2009-2019, until tragic incidents took place which setback the progress and cut down steady growth drastically. Unfortunately, this did not only disrupt the operations and income flow of large corporations in the industry, but also specifically daily wage earners who had to reach out the short end of the stick, as the economy took a major hit. Sri Lanka, unlike most other countries, does not have an intimate setting to promote culture and awareness amongst the community, let alone to new visitors, coming in to enjoy a vacation. However, that’s precisely what this project strives to address. After multiple rounds of thorough research, the problem domain evolved to be much more than a business solution, but rather a revolutionary measure. Hom3Circuit - a system promoting authentic homestays in Sri Lanka, while promoting and celebrating the culture and traditions in given locations, with food, travel and profound conversations about the rich history we are immersed in. Homestay owners can now be discovered on one platform, by travelers, while refining their search queries to match their travel preferences such as: weather, culture, food etc. Further, homestay owners can not only secure reservations, but also calculate sales forecasts, annual revenue growth, smart pricing according to season etc. Overall, this solution endeavors to assist any household, with an extra space, that can be turned into a comfortable, cultured and commercialized renting area in order to generate additional income.