Bed and breakfasts and other sorts of homestays have been popular abroad for many years. At first they arose because inns and hotels in tourist areas were insufficient to meet demand, so local farmers would rent out rooms.
民宿在國外已行之有年，最初的興起，是因為觀光旅遊地區的飯店、旅館不敷所需，當地農舍於是出租房間供旅客住宿。