In a significant decision, the State Government has decided to provide a subsidy of Rs 10 lakh for starting a homestay project in mountainous areas. In the new ‘Home Stay Policy’ implemented on April 20, a new set of guidelines have been set in place for converting houses for homestays of tourists. In addition to the subsidy amount the Government would also provide an exemption of upto Rs 1.5 lakhs on interest for first five years. In the plain areas the subsidy would be upto Rs 7.5 lakhs. Only the natives of the State would be eligible under the scheme. These measures are expected to boost the plans of to develop tourism as an industry.
Expressing happiness on the new home stay policy, Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj said that the new scheme would help in preventing migration from the hills. He opined that a new platform would now be made available to showcase the local culture and promote local food. The Minister added that the new policy would help in making Uttarakhand into a tourism State.
Informing about the home stay policy, the secretary tourism Dilip Jawalkar said areas coming under the Municipal Corporations would not be covered under the scheme. He said that the owner of the house can take the benefit of the scheme for the house he is residing. Apart from providing facility of stay, the owner of the house should compulsorily provide food to the visitors. The secretary clarified that minimum one room and maximum six rooms can be identified for home stay in one house. He said that the Government would help in developing infrastructural facilities in the village where there are more than six home stays. Jawalkar added that soon a mobile app and website for the scheme would be launched. As a supportive measure, the tourism department would also organise training programmes so that high standards of hospitality are maintained in the home stay scheme. The Tourism secretary further informed that the District Magistrates (DM) would be instructed to identify the home stays. It is worth mentioning here that the state government has taken a target for raising 5000 home stays in the state for its mission 2020.
