An upsurge in popularity of homestays has provided newer economic opportunities to remote Indian Himalayan communities. Despite the benefits homestays offer, their acceptance by mountain communities is fraught with challenges. This qualitative research study has listened to and given voice to homestay scheme non-participants, community members from 15 villages in the KuIlu region. Through thematic analysis, rational, understandable reasons leading to decisions not to engage are identified: socio-cultural; practical and apprehensions. Reasons include an inability to comply with certain guidelines of the scheme, inadequacy in sanitary infrastructure, gender roles, complex socio-cultural issues and also home model issues, which all condition the scheme implementation. The concept of 'deliberate non-participation' is advanced which extends previous typologies of community participation. Further theoretical and practical implications of the study are discussed along with recommendations for future development of the homestay scheme. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.