MP launches bed & breakfast scheme

If you think hotel accommodation in cities like Bhopal and Indore is an expensive affair, wait for few more days. You will have a chance to stay with a family as paying guest. The state government has allowed private residential property owners to let the tourists – foreign as well as domestic – to stay with them on fee basis. A detailed plan has been chalked out to let state citizens have a chance to show the world their culture and family values as well as have some additional income.

Towards this, the government has replicated Government of India’s “Bed and Breakfast Scheme” where citizens with additional accommodation in their residential properties and facilities will be allowed to lodge in tourists as paying guests. Interestingly, the state cabinet has put this activity out of ambit of commercial activity or hospitality business and exempted from almost all taxes.

Any property owner who has suitable space and facility to run such an operation, state babus will not interfere, provided the owner operates the scheme in a regulatory frame work after obtaining registration from the department of tourism.

The tax-loving state government has even waived off serving of liquor from taxes under the scheme. “The bed and breakfast scheme will not attract any tax, commercial tax, value added tax, luxury tax or tour and travel operators tax. However, the owners of such properties will not be allowed to operate any tour or travel agency or other commercial activities like showcasing of handicrafts or souvenirs,” said a government official.

The basic idea of the scheme is to make affordable accommodations to foreign guests, give them opportunity to stay with Indian families and relish the ethnic cuisine.