Register homestays on tourism portal or face action: Minister

The Tourism department has made it mandatory for all homestays to register or be ready to face legal action.

Tourism Minister Priyank Kharge told DH that too many homestays are mushrooming in the state and the department has no details of them. Only a few are registered. Many tourists have been fleeced in the name of homestays.

The number of complaints from domestic and foreign tourists has been increasing. They pertain to shoddy premises, security issues and lack of basic facilities. There are also cases where flesh trade is reported in the name of homestays, liquor being served and illegal activities taking place there. Many resorts are claiming to be homestays, he said.

“We will put an end to all this. All homestays have been directed to register on or before November 15. Failing this, legal action will be taken against them and will be shut down. The objective of homestays is to give a homely, traditional environment with quality service,” the minister said.

Registration details have been uploaded on the department website www.karnatakatourism.org. State and central government guidelines to follow have also been uploaded. 

The department has not done any survey on the number of homestays in Karnataka. But according to its estimates, there are over 4,000 in Kodagu alone, of which only 400 are registered. There are over 2,000 in Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, Ballari and on the outskirts of Bengaluru. Earlier also, the department had made it mandatory for homestays to register and get a rating. B­ut not many showed interest. Now, it  has reduced the registration charges and made rating optional. The rating and promotion, if required, will be done by the department for a fee.

Take royal ride for Dasara
The department has fixed Rs 30,000 as the ticket fare for two nights and one day on the Golden Chariot train to enjoy Mysuru Dasara.

The train will leave Yeshwantpur station, Bengaluru, on October 3, 5, 7 and 9, 2016. Tourists can book tickets on the websites www.goldenchariot.org, Bookmyshow and Makemytrip.

Tourists will be taken to Mysuru and Srirangapatna. They will also be given a golden pass to witness the Jamboo Savari and the evening cultural programmes during the Mysuru Dasara.