Now Reading: J&K Chief Secretary reviews renewed homestay policy for sustainable tourism
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J&K Chief Secretary reviews renewed homestay policy for sustainable tourism
J&K Chief Secretary reviews renewed homestay policy for sustainable tourism
Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo chaired a meeting of the Tourism Department to review the renewed Homestay Policy, which aims to expand homestay infrastructure across Jammu & Kashmir, promote tourism in less-explored areas,…
The Story in Brief
Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo chaired a meeting of the Tourism Department to review the renewed Homestay Policy, which aims to expand homestay infrastructure across Jammu & Kashmir, promote tourism in less-explored areas, and create sustainable livelihoods. The policy sets a minimum of one and maximum of six guest rooms per property, with the Union Territory currently offering 20,514 beds across 2,802 homestay units.
The renewed framework introduces a Bed & Breakfast model for secondary residential properties, simplified online registration, and loans of up to ₹5 lakh per room (capped at ₹30 lakh per homestay) through J&K Bank. The government has also partnered with OYO under Mission YUVA for the 'Crown of Incredible India' Homestay Initiative. An inspection committee will assign registered homestays Silver or Gold categories based on compliance with safety, hygiene, and service standards.
The Indian Opinion
The homestay policy is a welcome step but the numbers are sobering: 2,802 units for a Union Territory with over 20 million annual tourists. The narrative that homestays alone will transform rural livelihoods ignores that loans of ₹5 lakh per room may still be out of reach for many without land titles or collateral. The real test will be whether the online registration and inspection process translates into a measurable increase in registered homestays over the next six months, and whether OYO’s partnership actually extends beyond urban clusters.
Source: greaterkashmir.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
