The sought-after tourist destinations in the state, from Chikkamagaluru and Kodagu to Hampi and Agumbe, have another thing in common – the popularity of host families. For travelers who want a home away from home, homestays are the preferred type of accommodation. And for the owners of these homes, it is a source of income. “I have noticed that the guidelines for host families are not being followed. The respective district assistant commissioners have been asked to keep an eye on host families,” he said. After the recent incident at a holiday home in Mangalore and allegations from officials that several accommodations did not comply with homestay rules in several parts of Karnataka, especially in Hassan, where there are many plantation houses, we received requests from many landlords who asked about host family rules, requirements, etc. Holiday Home Times sat down with the Deputy Director of the Karnataka State Department of Tourism, Mr. Bhaskar to find answers to questions that owners have always wanted to know. Those in the industry say the hesitation to sign up could be due to many reasons. “It cannot be a registered property; or they may not be able to provide all the documents required for a foster care licence; or they deviated from the plan and added more rooms. Then there are people who don`t have these problems, but just don`t want to be in the picture because they deserve what they have to do.
There are others who don`t want to deal with harassment by public servants or the taxation associated with it,” said another member of the Homestay Association. Sridev Hulikere of the Wild Cat C organization says there is a need to implement strict regulations for host families. The owners of the host family must live in the village for a minimum period of 15 years. The building should be solid and only three people (2 + 1) should stay in a room. The number of rooms in a host family must not exceed five. Tourism Minister C T Ravi said there were more host families in Kodagu and Chikkamagaluru. “We can`t monitor them every day. We have asked all owners who run a host family to register with us. This is the best we can do,” he added.
But at the meeting that just ended, the minister of tourism admitted in response to a question that there were only 1,531 registered host families in Karnataka. This has raised many questions, as the popularity and number of host families is undeniably much higher than the allowed figures. It was also pointed out how many of these accommodations are not approved and how many follow the rules. Ironically, the minister`s response also denied facing complaints about unauthorized foster families. Registration of host families. Host families working in Karnataka must be registered with the Karnataka Ministry of Tourism. If you register an accommodation where you or members of your family also live, this will be considered a host family and you must apply for registration here. For instructions/help with registration, see these instructions. To be eligible for registration, your premises must meet the requirements of the Karnataka Ministry of Tourism.
Your premises must also not be registered as a hotel or similar commercial establishment. The public also complains that host families are not managing their solid waste. How we prepare for the “new normal” in the tourism sector is the big challenge for everyone involved. For example, if they have to take foster families to Malnad, they are usually found in settlements, forest areas and in a typical rural environment. Owners or hosts of host families should be fully prepared for a clear hygiene protocol and period control for guests and staff. It is very important for stays to invest little money in improving household routines and using relevant disinfectants. In the meantime, the tourism department is also pre-selecting the rules and regulations that must be strictly followed by travelers and hosts. Of all the exceptions offered to homestay owners, he said: “Host families are exempt from the luxury tax. In addition, the electricity (electricity) tariff applies to host families. In addition, homestay owners can set their rates based on the facilities for tourists. The department has no role in setting rates.
Mr. Ravi, a founding member of the Karnataka Tourism Society, said that in addition to Chikkamagaluru, Sakleshpur and Kodagu, many host families are also appearing in the coastal belt and things are going very well. “We are encouraging more people to sign up, which will benefit everyone.
