PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The Uttarakhand Tourism department on Tuesday has simplified the registration and renewal process for tourism businesses across the state under the Uttarakhand Tourism, Travel Trade Registration Rules 2026, making the system more transparent and time-bound.
The department has directed all the district tourism development officers to prioritise registration and renewal applications and ensure they are disposed of without unnecessary delays.
The new rules cover hotels, resorts, guest houses, ashrams, dharamshalas, homestays, bed and breakfast units, travel agencies, tour operators, adventure tourism operators and other tourism-related establishments.
Unregistered tourism units and those whose previous registration has expired will have to register under the new rules within 180 days of notification. Existing registered units whose registration has completed five years will have to apply for renewal within 90 days, while homestays will be required to renew their registration after two years.
The department has also simplified the issuance of online provisional certificates. During renewal, the provisional certificate will be generated automatically once applicants submit the required documents, including the fire safety certificate or bill, FSSAI certificate and prescribed fee.
The rules also provide eligible homestay operators an exemption from mandatory GST registration, subject to submission of an affidavit on a Rs 100 notarised stamp paper.
The tourism secretary and CEO of the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB) Dhiraaj Singh Garbyal said that officials had been instructed to make the registration and renewal process “simple, transparent and time-bound” and prevent unnecessary pendency.
The additional director Poonam Chand urged tourism operators to comply with the new rules and complete registration or renewal within the prescribed deadlines.
