Bill to regulate homestays ready

After Mangalore homestay attack case, the tourism department in the state seems to have woken up to regulate their activities . The state government has prepared the draft Karnataka Tourism Trade Facilitation Act-2012, according to which it will be mandatory for the owners to register the homestay before starting the operations. The draft Act also states that the owner of the homestay must display license certificate, facilities available in the premises and maintain all necessary records.

It is not only homestay owners, the proposed Act also puts riders on travel agents, tourist guides, adventure sports bodies and others. Once the Act comes into force it will be necessary for tourists guides to seek necessary license from the authorities like Archaeological Survey of India and other government institutions.

Addressing the delegates at a workshop on the proposed Bill, principal secretary of the tourism department G Latha Krishna Rao said that in the backdrop of several unsavoury incidents in the recent past, it was felt that regulations on home stay and adventurous sports was necessary considering the safety of tourists visiting the state.

There is ample opportunity to run home- stays especially in areas close to heritage spots. “At present home stays are concentrated in Kodagu. There are ample opportunities to run homestays in heritage spots and in coastal belts also . Tourists visiting the tourism spots would like to stay in a place which has nativity ambiance. In the interest of tourist visiting the state, regulations will be put in place safeguarding their interests.”

Citing an incident reported in the Bannerghatta National Park where a techie was killed by elephants after he went missing, the official said that the government felt the need of imposing rules and regulations through the proposed Bill. As per the draft rules, adventure sports operators have to follow emergency and rescue operations guidelines, should obtain license, permission from forest officials before entering the activity area, they should have suitable insurance policy, operators shall have a firm or company, established in the place of business for a minimum period of two years, operators shall buy the equipment tested and certified by United International Alpine Association/ European standards. The adventures activities include trekking, mountaineering,rock climbing, mountain biking, bungee jumping and others.

The Bill states that owners of homestay, tourist agents, guides and others who fail to get license from the authorities are liable to pay a fine which may exceed to Rs10,000. For repeated offence there are provision for imprisonment as well as the penalty. The state government will also make provisions to inspect travel agents if necessary.