Context: The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet approved the Bed and Breakfast (B&B) and Homestay Policy-2025 to provide comfortable and accessible accommodation for devotees and tourists visiting the state’s religious and tourist destinations.
More on News:
- The Tourism Department stated that the policy was needed as hotels near religious and tourist sites often remain fully booked, and aims to address this by allowing local residents to offer homestay accommodations.
- Under the policy:
- Registering homestays in rural areas will require only a nominal fee, ranging from ₹500 to ₹750.
- For urban and silver-category homestays, the application fee has been set at ₹2,000.
- Any individual living near a religious or tourist site will be permitted to register a homestay unit comprising 1 to 6 rooms, accommodating up to a maximum of 12 beds.
- Tourists can stay for a maximum of seven consecutive days, with the option to extend their stay through a renewal process.
- They can register more easily by obtaining a no-objection certificate (NOC) from local authorities.
- The registration and approval of homestays will be managed by a committee led by the respective district magistrate and superintendent of police, ensuring safety and regulatory compliance.
- In the absence of a state-level homestay policy until now, operators were required to register through the Central government’s NIDHI+ portal.
- NIDHI+ portal is an initiative towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat to use technology to empower businesses.
- It aspires to become a gateway to opportunities for the Hospitality & Tourism Industry.
