Homestay policy to drive sustainable tourism, livelihoods in J&K: Chief Secretary

Ziraat Times Team Report

SRINAGAR, AUGUST 14: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Thursday described the renewed Homestay Policy as a bedrock for promoting sustainable tourism in unexplored destinations of Jammu & Kashmir, while calling for easier access to finance and greater capacity-building of local residents to drive the sector’s growth.

Dulloo chaired a meeting of the Tourism Department to review the renewed policy aimed at expanding homestay infrastructure, taking tourism to lesser-explored destinations and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for local communities.

The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism; Commissioner Secretary, GAD; Director, Industries & Commerce, Jammu; Directors of Tourism, Kashmir and Jammu; representatives of J&K Bank and other concerned officers.

Describing homestays as particularly suited to the ecologically fragile environment of J&K, the Chief Secretary said the model could help expand tourism beyond established destinations while ensuring that local residents become active stakeholders in tourism development.

He said the initiative would create employment and income opportunities across different sections of society and contribute to improving household incomes and living standards.

Dulloo directed the Tourism Department to undertake greater handholding and intensive capacity-building programmes for prospective and existing homestay owners, stressing the need to equip local communities with the skills required to provide quality services to visitors.

He also called upon financial institutions to extend necessary financial support for the augmentation, renovation and improvement of homestay facilities under the renewed policy framework.

During the meeting, the Tourism Department made a detailed presentation on the existing homestay ecosystem and the provisions incorporated in the renewed policy.

Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism, Dr Ashish Chandra Verma said a homestay under the policy refers to a residential property where the owner or promoter and their family reside on the premises, with a minimum of one and maximum of six guest rooms, subject to prescribed standards relating to safety, hygiene, water supply and electricity.

Jammu & Kashmir currently has 2,802 homestay units with a total accommodation capacity of 20,514 beds, the meeting was informed.

The policy provides homestay owners with official recognition by the Tourism Department, promotion through J&K Tourism platforms, access to training and capacity-building programmes, facilitation of financial assistance through government schemes and banking institutions, participation in tourism promotion campaigns and enhanced visibility among domestic and international tourists.

B&B model extended to secondary residential properties

The meeting was also informed about the introduction of the Bed & Breakfast (B&B) model, under which secondary residential properties can now also be registered for tourist accommodation.

Owners can offer between one and six rooms under the model, allowing them to generate income from vacant or underutilised residential properties while increasing the availability of tourist accommodation across J&K.

The renewed framework also provides for a simplified online registration process through the J&K Tourism portal. Applicants can upload property details, photographs and requisite documents online, with registered properties to receive greater visibility through official digital platforms.

Digital integration and geotagging will facilitate easier discovery of registered properties by tourists, while a dedicated platform will promote homestays across Jammu & Kashmir.

Loans up to ₹30 lakh for homestay conversion

Financial inclusion is another key component of the initiative, with J&K Bank facilitating financing for eligible homestay owners.

Under the financing arrangement, loans for converting a residential house into a homestay can be extended up to ₹5 lakh per room, subject to a maximum of ₹30 lakh per homestay, depending on average conversion requirements.

The Department also highlighted digital integration under Mission YUVA, through which the J&K Government has partnered with OYO for the “Crown of Incredible India” Homestay Initiative.

The initiative seeks to promote village-based entrepreneurship and self-employment among youth through the establishment and promotion of homestays, thereby creating new livelihood opportunities while taking tourism deeper into rural and lesser-explored areas.

Time-bound inspection and registration

The renewed framework also incorporates a simplified and time-bound inspection mechanism.

An Inspection Committee will assess registered applicants against a prescribed checklist and assign either Silver or Gold category based on compliance with stipulated standards.

Applicants uploading all requisite documents in accordance with the checklist will be granted provisional registration under the Silver Category for six months.

The policy further provides that if verification is not completed within 15 days, the registration will be deemed to have been automatically approved, reducing procedural delays and providing greater certainty to applicants.

The government said the renewed Homestay Policy is intended to create a more inclusive, digitally enabled and financially supported tourism ecosystem, with local households and youth placed at the centre of tourism-led economic development across Jammu & Kashmir.