Homestay accommodations can attract more tourists
Since the tourism season is all set to begin and many a tourists are currently on a visit to the Valley one issue that needs to be addressed is to arrange for more options of accommodation available for them during their visit.
One option that has been gaining popularity is the homestays accommodations which were initiated to enhance the intake capacity for tourists across Jammu and Kashmir.
This novel idea of providing staying space to the visitors reflects the European style which makes the visitors feel comfortable and enjoy the beauty of the place while spending the least.
Homestay accommodations have been made available across the length and breadth of the UT and this concept was attracting a lot of traction as the visitors would prefer to stay at locations that provided homely atmosphere and warmth.
However, the slump in tourist arrivals last year meant that the proposal has witnessed some hiccups as fewer footfalls has meant that these accommodations were left vacant for most part of the year following the Pahalgam attack.
Since homestays have been made available here the Tourism Department needs to revisit and revise the existing guidelines in line with Government of India’s Homestay Policy, ensuring the inclusion of a transparent and credible grading system for registered establishments.
This will help in providing a varied choice for the visitors to select a place according to their needs and demands. The tourism Department can also enhance the presence of homestays on social media platforms and can initiate moves to integrate homestays with a dedicated online portal that facilitates real-time booking, detailed information on amenities, and provision for public feedback and ratings.
Notably, Tourism department has registered around 2,500 homestays comprising over 18,500 rooms and the Department is taking multiple initiatives to give a substantial push to the homestay ecosystem, including the introduction of simplified registration processes, user-friendly guidelines, and enhanced marketing support to position homestays as a key component of the tourism experience in J&K.
Since homestay accommodations have been started mostly by young entrepreneurs they too need to be provided a support to make them financially independent so that they can sustain their activities all through the season.
The government can initiate financial support to promote homestay entrepreneurship and financial institutions can design an exclusive loan product for homestay owners, modelled on the lines of housing loans and offered at a competitive rate of interest.
Interestingly, the move to promote homestays will not only diversify the accommodation landscape of J&K but also empower local communities, generate employment, and strengthen the rural tourism value chain across the UT.
