PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
Former Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Karan Mahara has said that the Bed and Breakfast (B&B) registration system implemented by the Tourism department is against the interests of local people and the cultural identity of Uttarakhand. He said that the objective of the Homestay Scheme in Uttarakhand was to provide self-employment opportunities to local families by connecting them with tourism. “The concept of homestays was developed to strengthen local culture, traditional hospitality and the rural economy. However, the current B&B policy includes provisions that allow property owners to operate tourism businesses through authorized operators, managers or commercial service providers without residing on the premises themselves,’’ he said.
Mahara said that on one hand the State government advocates for strict land laws in the name of protecting Uttarakhand’s land, resources and demographic balance and on the other it is also implementing policies that appear to indirectly open new avenues for outsiders and businesses to enter the state’s tourism sector.
He stated that Uttarakhand’s rural areas are not only known as tourist destinations, but also for their unique culture, social structure, traditions, and community life. Uncontrolled commercialization of tourism activities could impact the local social environment and cultural values.
Mahara stated that thousands of local residents and entrepreneurs in Uttarakhand have invested crores of rupees in hotels, guest houses and tourism businesses through their life savings, bank loans, and private investments. Consequently, the B&B policy, allowing outside investors and business operators to enter tourism activities without requiring local residency, could pose serious competitive challenges to local hoteliers, he said.
