Madikeri: The state tourism department has simplified the norms to for setting up and operating home stays, confirmed Kodagu Home Stay Owners’ Association.
Addressing the press meet in Madikeri on October 14, Association former president Karumbaiah confirmed that the association members succeeded in resolving many differences after meeting state tourism minister and secretary. He further said that registration of home stays can be made online by paying a nominal fee of Rs 500 where as earlier one had to visit capital Bengaluru and pay Rs 2000 for registration purpose.
The applicant has to fill a simple questionnaire consisting 60 questions online and soon after that the tourism department staff will visit and provide approval, he clarified.
Those willing to obtain the star rating have to pay Rs 17,500 and this will enable them to get necessary publicity through the tourism department, he confirmed.
Home stays are not categorised in commercial trade group and hence are exempted from taxes, except those charging in excess of Rs 5000. Home stay owners have to pay normal electricity and water bill charges and gram panchayaths have to collect nominal taxes only, he stated.
Only house owners can operate home stays and those taking houses on rental basis are not eligible for registration. Each home stay should have five or more rooms and all registration procedure will come under the ambit of district deputy commissioner, he said.
In Kodagu as many as 430 home stays have been registered till date and around 1200 are likely to get registered before the deadline expires on November 15. The departmental staffs are free to raid unregistered home stays after that, he stressed.
The Association will provide free assistance to home stay owners seeking clarifications on registration procedure, he said.
Association President Madan Somanna and members Ambekal Naveen Kushalappa, Shashi Monnappa along with Secretary Savitha Appanna were present during the press briefing.
