Effect of Homestay Management Style on Sustainable Community Development in Lake Region Economic Bloc, Kenya

Purpose: This study sought to establish the effect of effect of homestay management style, on sustainable community development in Lake Region economic bloc, Kenya. Methodology: The study employed a mixed method research design. The target population was 109 homestay operators, 14 County Directors of Tourism, 23,000 guests and 36,577 gazetted village elders. The stratified simple random sampling was used to select homestays operators, tourists (guests) and village elders. Krejcie and Morgan (1973) Table was used to select a sample of 384 guests and 384 village elders randomly. Data was collected using questionnaires and interviews. The questionnaire was tested for face and content validity using expert judgement, and for construct validity using Principal Component Analysis, with Cronbach’s Alpha testing for reliability. Quantitative data analysed using descriptive (means and standard deviation) and inferentially using linear regression analysis. Findings: The results indicated that homestay management style has a positive significant effect on sustainable community development (ẞ = 0.600; p < 0.05). The study concluded that homestay management style significantly increases sustainable community development in the Lake Region Economic Bloc. This finding underscores the critical role of quality homestay management in driving positive development within communities. This highlights the need for supportive policies and integrated approaches to tourism development. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study was informed by the Social Exchange and Sustainable Development theories. In terms of practical contributions, governments, tourism authorities, and development agencies should prioritize initiatives that promote sustainable management practices among homestay operators, balancing economic viability with socio-cultural and environmental sustainability. Workshops can be held to provide a platform for stakeholders to collaborate, share insights, and co-create solutions, while public hearings can be held to offer opportunities for transparent decision-making and ensure that the voices of all stakeholders are heard.