AFZAL FAUJI / Nainital
Controversy is brewing over a new B&B (Bed and Breakfast) scheme in Uttarakhand. While the government is touting this Central government scheme as a significant step towards promoting tourism and expanding accommodation facilities, the hotel and homestay operators say it will benefit outsiders and adversely impact local tourism businesses.
Notably, the Uttarakhand government recently amended the Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Homestay Development Scheme–an initiative aimed at local residents- increasing the number of rooms per homestay to eight.
According to the district tourism officer Atul Bhandari, this scheme is only for permanent residents of Uttarakhand, with a 50 per cent subsidy. “Under the scheme, the homeowner must operate the homestay by living in the building with their family. Homestays cannot be leased out and must be registered according to established standards,” he clarified.
But the local hoteliers are unconvinced. They said in unison that this scheme would help outsiders to use their residential buildings for commercial purposes.
Venting grievances on this matter, the president of Nainital Hotels and Restaurants Association, Digvijay Singh Bisht said that this provision, introduced under the Uttarakhand Tourism and Travel Act, would create uneven competition for local hotel and homestay operators. He said that allowing B&Bs to operate on land purchased for residential purposes would negatively impact local businesses. “This association has demanded the government to review the plan and ensure the protection of local interests in the mountain-based tourism business. We are really concerned,” he added.
