Strict action against unauthorized homestays

Madikeri, May 7: Keeping in mind the safety of tourists, it is mandatory for homestays operating in the district to obtain official approval. Sub-Divisional Officer Nitin Chakki, who is also the Deputy Director of the Tourism Department, has warned that homestay owners operating in the Kodagu district without obtaining a registration certificate should apply through the official portal of the Tourism Department and operate homestays only after obtaining a registration certificate.

Giving a press statement in this regard, he said that if homestays are found operating illegally without registration, appropriate legal action will be taken against such homestays under the Karnataka Tourism Business (Facilitation and Regulation) Act-2015. Homestay owners must comply with the conditions. It is mandatory for all existing and new homestays to register with the Tourism Department of the Government of Karnataka. The list of registered homestays will be displayed on the Tourism Department's website. No rooms can be rented on a time-share basis. Permission letter and license letters should be displayed at the main entrance of the home stay from page 4 (from the first page). Rented or leased or sub-rented houses are not allowed to be registered as home stays. The home stay owner must live in the place. CCTV should be installed in the home stay, the CCTV should be operational 24x7 and 30 days of footage should be stored and the CCTV should be maintained properly.

Background check of the staff hired for the home stay should be done through the police department. A feedback register, complaint register and response book should be maintained at the home stay entrance to effectively resolve the problems of the guests. The home stay owner should serve breakfast to the guests. Safety measures including cleanliness, health, hygiene and fire safety should be followed without fail. Separate dustbins should be kept for the collection of dry waste and wet waste. Recycling, use of renewable energy sources and proper disposal of waste should be encouraged. Plastic waste should not be burnt for any reason. The homestay should provide a local experience to the guests through local decor, authentic cuisine, local activities, etc. It has been explained that the homestay owners should ensure that the guests do not cause any nuisance to the public or to the neighbours. The homestay should provide a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 6 rented rooms. The homestay can have a maximum of 12 beds. There cannot be more than 3 beds in a room except for beds for children. No room in the homestay can be maintained as a dormitory and bunk beds are not provided in the homestay. A maximum of 12 adults can stay as guests in the homestay at any time. If any guest is found to be engaging in any illegal activities in the homestay, inform the nearest police station. Homestays operating without the approval or registration of the Tourism Department will be considered illegal and legal action will be taken against the homestay owners and promoters under the KTTF Act-2015. When guests arrive, their name, full address, mobile number, vehicle number should be obtained in the home-stay register and when foreigners arrive, their visa passport should be checked and entered in the register. Information about foreigners should be provided to the police department in Form C or as per the prescribed guidelines, he said.

If the public has any complaint/information about homestays being run illegally without information and about homestay registration, their details can be sent to the Office of the Deputy Director, Tourism Department, Stuart Hill Road, Madikeri, Kodagu District-571201, Telephone No.: 08272-200519, Email: [email protected] or the Office of the District Superintendent of Police, Telephone No.: 08272-229000, Email: [email protected] or sthi.gov.it.

The Deputy Director of the Tourism Department has asked the people of the district to join hands to curb unauthorized homestays in the district and provide the details of homestays being run illegally without obtaining any permission in their vicinity and provide the necessary cooperation.

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