Since its introduction in 1988, the Homestay Programme in Malaysia has become an iconic rural tourism product. Tourists pay a reasonable price to stay with a host family and experience daily life alongside the local community. The pandemic outbreak in February 2020 severely impacted the tourism industry, causing many homestays to cease operations. In the post-pandemic period, the tourism industry, including homestays, is striving to regain momentum. Studies have been conducted to identify critical success factors influencing homestays' success. This study focuses on identifying these factors for homestays in Penang, Malaysia, considering perspectives from tourists, government agencies, institutions, industry players, and the community.