"Himachal Pradesh Home Stay Scheme 2008" to woo tourists

Amidst fears of global meltdown likely to impact the tourism sector in India as well, Himachal government is trying to cash on novel idea to beat the slump in tourism sector this year.

Starting this year, Himachal government in order to attract visitors to the state has introduced “Himachal Pradesh Home Stay Scheme 2008”.

According to the scheme tourists visiting the state would be offered comfortable home stay accommodation in rural areas of Himachal.

Surjeet Kumar, Publicity Officer, Himachal Tourism and Civil Aviation, revealed the basic idea to encourage home stay scheme in Himachal was to promote the state culture and help tourists in getting an experience of Himachal customs and traditions.

The Home Stay scheme would not only broaden the tourism base in Himachal but also would help in taking tourism to the rural and interior areas of the State. 

Also the scheme would help in decongesting the urban areas in Himachal and would act as an economic multiplier for people in rural areas.

Kumar revealed that directory of approved Home Stay Units, by state department of tourism, would be publicized and the list would also be listed on its web site.

Every Home Stay Unit owner shall get the unit registered with the state department of tourism and follow the guidelines framed there under for the Himachal Pradesh Home Stay, Scheme 2008 which shall be binding on the owner of the Home Stay Unit.

The owner of the Home Stay Unit would charge the rates approved by the department at the time of registration from the tourists.

All the new approved Home Stay Units which are approved under the provisions of this scheme shall be eligible to claim exemptions that include exemption from luxury and sales tax and domestic rates would be charged for electricity and water from the registered Home Stay Units.

The relaxation of taxes for Home Stay Tourism Units in the rural areas has been provided in order to diversify the tourists from oversaturated areas to other areas and to give a boost to Home Stay and rural tourism to ensure participation of villagers in the sector and make it a House hold affair.