Book homestays after referring tourism department website

A year after the tourism department announced that all home stays operating in Karnataka should be registered, officials now urge tourists to verify if the home stay they are booking is certified or not.

Tourists should refer to the tourism department website (www.karnatakatourism.org) or check the district administrative websites of the deputy commissioners to ensure whether the home stays are genuine or not. “Whichever home stay is registered and certified has been listed on the tourism department website. As and when certificates are issued to others, they will be added to the list. People should look at the list before making reservations,” tourism Minister Priyank Kharge told DH.

He admitted that the certification process had slowed down. “We had given them extension once in November last year. After this, the process had slowed down. We are now giving them some more time so that tourists and locals are not effected,” he said.

The department has serious concerns pertaining to home stays in Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru and Hampi as they had received many complaints from these districts of illegal activities taking place in the guise of home stays.

The certification and verification has been slow because of administrative issues, say department officials. “Some home stays have obtained permission from local panchayats. The police department also has its own records. All these need to be sorted out. The district administrations have been verifying the legality of the home stays,” the official added.

Richard Vincent D’ Souza, Kodagu DC said that they received over 638 applications seeking registration certificates. But only 30 have been registered after verifying their documents. According to the local association, there are over 3,000 home stays in Kodagu, of which 400 have obtained permission from the gram panchayat.

“We have decided to put out the list of certified home stays on the website. Some home stays have tied up with various online travel booking agencies. We request them to post their certificate online and tourists must check it before making bookings,” he said.

Ram Prasath Manohar V, Ballari DC said that so far, they had certified three home stays in Hampi. But there could be over 50 operating. The process of verification of others is under way. He said that a heritage village near the archaeological sites was being created which will have a cluster of home stays.

 
What is the criteria for home stay

*Should have homely atmosphere

*Should not have more than five rooms

*Property owner should be operating the home stay

*No alcohol should be served

*No commercial activity like spa or gym should exist

Criteria for judging a home stay

*Ownership document

*No Objection Certificate from gram panchayat or urban local body
*No Objection Certificate from local police.