Srinagar, Aug 14 (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Friday described the renewed Homestay Policy as a bedrock for promoting sustainable tourism in unexplored destinations and called for easier access to finance and greater training for homestay operators.
Chairing a meeting of the Tourism Department to review the policy, Dulloo said homestays offer an environmentally sustainable tourism model suited to the ecologically fragile region of Jammu and Kashmir.
He said promotion of homestays would help expand tourism beyond established destinations while making local residents active stakeholders in tourism development and creating employment and income opportunities.
Dulloo directed the Tourism Department to undertake intensive capacity-building and handholding initiatives for existing and prospective homestay owners to equip them with the skills required to provide quality services to tourists.
He also urged financial institutions to extend adequate financial support for the renovation, augmentation and improvement of homestay facilities, saying easier access to credit would encourage more households to join the initiative.
During the meeting, Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism, Ashish Chandra Verma said a homestay under the policy is a residential property where the owner and family reside, with one to six guest rooms subject to prescribed standards for safety, hygiene, water supply and electricity.
Jammu and Kashmir currently has 2,802 homestay units with an accommodation capacity of 20,514 beds, he said.
The policy provides official recognition by the Tourism Department, promotion through J&K Tourism platforms, access to training programmes, facilitation of financial assistance through government schemes and banks, participation in tourism promotion campaigns and greater visibility among domestic and international tourists.
The renewed framework also introduces a Bed and Breakfast model under which secondary residential properties can be registered for tourist accommodation. Owners can offer one to six rooms, allowing them to generate income from vacant or underutilised properties while increasing tourist accommodation capacity.
The registration process has also been simplified through the J&K Tourism portal, where applicants can upload property details, photographs and required documents online. Digital integration and geotagging would facilitate easier discovery and promotion of registered properties.
Under the financial inclusion component being facilitated through J&K Bank, loans of up to Rs 5 lakh per room can be extended for converting residential houses into homestays, subject to a maximum of Rs 30 lakh per homestay.
The department also highlighted the digital integration undertaken under Mission YUVA through a partnership with OYO for the “Crown of Incredible India” Homestay Initiative.
The initiative seeks to promote village-based entrepreneurship and self-employment among youth by establishing and promoting homestays in rural and lesser-explored areas.
The policy also provides for a simplified and time-bound inspection mechanism. Registered applicants would be assessed by an Inspection Committee through a prescribed checklist and categorised as Silver or Gold based on compliance with stipulated standards.
Applicants submitting all required documents would receive provisional Silver-category registration for six months. If verification is not completed within 15 days, the registration would be deemed automatically approved, according to the policy.
The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary, GAD; Director, Industries and Commerce, Jammu; Directors of Tourism, Kashmir and Jammu; representatives of J&K Bank and other officials.
The renewed policy is aimed at creating an inclusive, digitally enabled and financially supported tourism ecosystem with local households and youth at the centre of tourism-led economic development in Jammu and Kashmir.(NVI)
