A view of an old-fashioned homestay in Ningbo, Zhejiang province [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]

Developing homestays has been an important step in enriching rural tourism in Ningbo, in East China's Zhejiang province.

Today there are 55 homestay clusters in the city with a total of 82 boutique homestays and over 17,000 beds. They have been one of the best choices for accommodation when traveling in Ningbo, as they allow tourists to really get close to the local lifestyle and culture.

"The development of homestays is an extension of rural tourism," said an official from the development committee for tourism in Ningbo, adding that it is vital to the overall performance of the tourism industry.

At a summit for homestay development in Ningbo on Dec 18, some 100 insiders shared their opinions on the transformation and upgrading of the homestay industry.

Masami Kobayashi, a renowned Japanese architect, suggested the government integrate resources and upgrade clusters of homestays to be comprehensive resorts offering sightseeing, entertainment, accommodation and catering.

Dou Wenzhang, a professor from Peking University, proposed the "industry plus" theory for Ningbo's homestay sector. He said based on the local natural and cultural resources, homestay owners are best advised to team up to build a characteristic town or a complex which would increase total income.

Masami Kobayashi, a Japanese architect, offers suggestions on the development of homestays at a summit in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, on Dec 18. [Photo/gmw.cn]