LastClues signs MoU with Sikkim Tourism to boost homestay visibility

LastClues has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tourism and Civil Aviation Department, Government of Sikkim, to strengthen the digital visibility of registered homestays across the state. 
Under the collaboration, LastClues will work with Sikkim Tourism and district-level stakeholders to onboard registered homestays and develop verified digital profiles, professional photographs, reels, videos and destination-related content. The initiative will also provide digital onboarding and training to homestay operators. 
The partnership aims to improve the online discoverability of registered properties, provide travellers with authentic accommodation information, promote lesser-known destinations and support rural tourism and local livelihoods. The Tourism and Civil Aviation Department will facilitate coordination with District Tourism Offices, registered homestays and its social media team. The framework also provides for collaboration with empanelled or regional tourism influencers to promote participating properties through destination features, reels, stories and seasonal campaigns. 
Subject to departmental approval, selected content may also be published through Sikkim Tourism's official digital communication channels. Where permitted, these posts may link to relevant LastClues homestay profiles, allowing travellers to access verified accommodation details and information about nearby experiences. Beyond accommodation visibility, the initiative will focus on promoting local attractions, community-based experiences and lesser-known destinations to encourage travellers to explore more of Sikkim and potentially extend their stays. 
The MoU also provides for exploring API-based integration between the Sikkim Tourism website and the LastClues platform, subject to mutual agreement and technical feasibility. The proposed integration could enable participating homestays and related information to be accessible across both digital platforms. 
The initiative has been structured without financial implications for the Tourism and Civil Aviation Department. Participation is also intended to be free for homestay owners, unless otherwise mutually agreed in writing. Individual participation will remain voluntary, with LastClues required to obtain explicit written consent before using owners' photographs, data or profile information. Owners will also have the option to withdraw from the initiative. The collaboration will undergo an annual review, with performance assessed through parameters including the number of homestays onboarded, digital profiles created, content produced, districts covered, digital reach, traveller enquiries and overall impact. 
Bhaskar Pant, Co-founder, LastClues, said the initiative would help registered homestays establish credible digital identities and improve access to verified stays and local experiences. 
Hondala Gyaltsen, Secretary, Tourism and Civil Aviation Department, Government of Sikkim, said the collaboration aims to improve digital visibility, provide travellers with authentic information and support the promotion of lesser-known destinations and community-based tourism.