Mysuru: Unregulated homestays are proliferating in Mysuru, a top tourist destination, according to licensed homestay operators. N Nagendra and H V Lavanya of Kukkeshree Homestay in Jayalakshmipuram have raised concerns about the rise of unauthorized homestays and have filed complaints with various authorities, including the Police Department, Deputy Commissioner, and Joint Director for Tourism. They also plan to approach the Cyber Police due to the involvement of non-Indian online platforms.
Nagendra and Lavanya highlighted that illegal homestays listed on platforms like Airbnb are undermining the hospitality sector in Mysuru. Despite there being only 19 registered homestays in the district, data from April 16 shows 698 listings on Airbnb alone. This discrepancy points to a significant issue with unregulated operators.
The couple criticized the lack of effective action against unauthorized homestays, which operate without proper registration, do not collect valid IDs from guests, and evade taxes. They noted that these establishments often lack essential safety measures and can misuse services like the Gruha Jyothi scheme.
C Narayana Gowda, President of the Mysuru Hotel Owners’ Association, echoed these concerns, warning that unauthorized homestays pose a threat to both the hospitality industry and public safety, as they lack guest verification systems.
Joint Director for Tourism M K Savitha responded by stating that 27 homestays are currently registered with the department. She emphasized ongoing efforts to simplify the registration process and encourage compliance.