Glare on policy for homestays... pre-conditions and directives need to be changed

AVIJIT SINHA, TT, 21 Aug 2019, Siliguri: Tour operators have decided to push for amendments to homestay policies drafted by the central and state governments so that such facilities can flourish.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the tourism stakeholders in Malbazar on Tuesday.

"Both the state and the Centre have come up with policies on bed and breakfast accommodations and homestays. But there are certain issues in the policies which need to be discussed further and amended so that they become compatible with the homestay owners. Certain pre-conditions and directives need to be changed so that the homestay tourism can flourish across north Bengal, including the Dooars. That is why we have decided to moot a proposal before the central and state governments," said Samrat Sanyal, the general secretary of the Himalayan Hospitality & Tourism Development Network.

According to the stake- holders, there are directives which say that the homestays should have trade licenses, online booking facilities and the accommodations should furnish details of boarders with police on a regular basis.

"But there are many homestays which have poor mobile connectivity and it is tough for the owners to run an online booking facility. In some cases, the homestay is located far from the nearest police station and it is not possible for the owner to go there every day to submit the guest list," said Sanyal.

Around 135 tourism stakeholders in the western Dooars, including a number of local associations, participated in the workshop..