Homestay Policy to Drive Sustainable Tourism in J&K: CS Dulloo

Srinagar : Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Friday called for easier access to finance and greater training support for homestay operators as he reviewed the renewed Homestay Policy aimed at expanding tourism infrastructure to unexplored destinations across Jammu and Kashmir.
Chairing a meeting of the Tourism Department, Dulloo described homestays as a key component of sustainable tourism development, particularly in an ecologically fragile region like Jammu and Kashmir.
He said expansion of homestays could help take tourism beyond established destinations while enabling local residents to become stakeholders in tourism development and generate additional income and employment.
The Chief Secretary directed the Tourism Department to undertake greater handholding and capacity-building programmes for prospective and existing homestay owners to improve the quality of services offered to visitors.
He also called upon financial institutions to provide necessary support for the renovation, conversion and improvement of homestay facilities, stressing that easier access to credit could encourage more households to join the sector.
During the meeting, the Tourism Department presented details of the renewed policy and the existing homestay ecosystem.
Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism, Dr Ashish Chandra Verma said a homestay under the policy is a residential property where the owner and family reside, with one to six guest rooms, subject to prescribed standards related to safety, hygiene, water supply and electricity.
According to the department, Jammu and Kashmir currently has 2,802 homestay units with a total accommodation capacity of 20,514 beds.
The policy provides registered homestay owners recognition by the Tourism Department, promotion through official tourism platforms, access to training and capacity-building programmes, facilitation of financial assistance and participation in tourism promotion campaigns.
The renewed framework also introduces a Bed & Breakfast model under which secondary residential properties can be registered for tourist accommodation. Owners can offer between one and six rooms, allowing vacant or underutilised residential properties to be converted into income-generating tourist facilities.
The department said the policy provides for a simplified online registration process through the J&K Tourism portal, allowing applicants to upload property details, photographs and required documents.
Digital integration and geotagging are also envisaged to improve the visibility and discoverability of registered properties.
Under the financial inclusion component being facilitated through J&K Bank, 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 conversion requirements.
The meeting was also informed about the “Crown of Incredible India” Homestay Initiative under Mission YUVA, through which the J&K Government has partnered with OYO to promote village-based entrepreneurship and self-employment among youth.
The renewed policy also provides for a simplified inspection mechanism. Registered applicants will be assessed against prescribed standards and categorised as Silver or Gold based on compliance.
Applicants submitting all required documents will receive provisional Silver Category registration for six months. The framework further provides that if verification is not completed within 15 days, the registration will be deemed automatically approved.
Officials said the renewed policy is aimed at creating a digitally enabled and financially supported tourism ecosystem, with local households and youth at the centre of tourism-led economic development across Jammu and Kashmir.