1. Introduction
   
   With the aim of providing comfortable Home Stay facilities of standardized world class services to the tourists, and to supplement the availability of accommodation in the rural tourist destinations, State Government introduces Home Stay Facilities on the basis of Ministry of Tourism, Government of India “Incredible India Bed and Breakfast scheme. The basic idea is to provide a clean and affordable place for foreigners and domestic tourists alike including an opportunity for foreign tourists to stay with Himachali families to experience Himachali customs and traditions and relish authentic Indian/Himachali cuisine.Home Stay Units, once approved by Department of Tourism, H.P. will be duly publicized. A directory of all such approved establishments will also be prepared, so as to enable domestic as well as foreign tourists to live in a homely environment and to take advantage of the scheme. In addition, efforts will be made to organize short term training in hospitality trade to those who would opt for such training.
   
   
2. Objective of the Scheme
   
   The Home Stay scheme shall have the following objectives:
   
   (a) Broaden the stake holder’s base for tourism in the State;
   
   (b) Take tourism to the rural and interior areas of the State;
   
   (c) Decongest the Urban areas, which cannot support any further tourism load;
   
   (d) Provide employment and economic values in the interior areas;
   
   (e) The activity shall be ecologically sustainable.
   
   
3. Short Title of Commencement
   
   (a) The scheme shall be called the “Himachal Pradesh Home Stay, Scheme 2008”
   
   (b) This scheme shall come into force from the date of notification.
   
   
4. Definition
   
   (a)  Home Stay is Any private house located in rural areas of the State in good condition and easily accessible in the country-side i.e. within the Farm House, Orchards, Tea-Gardens etc. will primarily qualify under the Scheme. The house shall fulfil the minimum requirement of having one or more room’s accommodation subject to a maximum of three rooms to cover under the scheme with attached toilet facility which will be made available to the tourists as Home Stay accommodation. The promoters are at liberty to submit fresh proposals for approval for setting up Home Stay in the country-side under the “Himachal Pradesh Home Stay, Scheme 2008”
   
   (b) Accommodation under the scheme would mean the room accommodation of minimum standard sizes with attached toilet facility reasonably furnished and ready for letting out to the tourists/guests as prescribed under the said scheme. The standard size for double and single bed room accommodation is 120 Sq.ft. and 100 Sq.ft. respectively and 30 Sq .ft .for bathroom / toilet.
   
   (c) Rural areas means area outside the jurisdiction of a duly constituted urban local body i.e. Municipal Corporation, Nagar Parishad and Nagar Panchayat. SADA’s shall not however, be considered an Urban Local body.
   
   
5. Eligibility
   
   (a) All the new approved Home Stay Units which are approved after the Notification of this scheme and under the provisions of this scheme shall be eligible to claim benefit/exemptions as envisaged here under.
   
   (b) As the exemptions under these rules are provided under the discretionary powers of the State Government, hence do not create any claim against Himachal Pradesh Government enforceable in any Court of Law.
   
   (c) Only those Home Stay Units will be eligible to avail of these exemptions which follow the instructions/guidelines issued by the Directorate of Tourism under this scheme and also broadly conform to hill architecture and design.
   
   (d) Only those Home Stay Units will be eligible where the owner/promoter of the unit alongwith his/her family is physically residing in the same unit.
   
   
6. Operation of the Scheme
   
   The scheme shall be operative in the entire rural areas of the State. The incentives/exemptions under the scheme shall be available in the countryside locations of such houses only in rural areas of the State.
   
   Any proprietor/owner of a private house located in a rural area of  the State can apply in the prescribed proforma (Annexure-I) to the District Tourism Development Officer of the Department of Tourism, Himachal Pradesh under whose jurisdiction the area falls for approval/registration of the Home Stay Unit under the Scheme.
   
   The District Tourism Development Officer before registering such Home Stay units must ensure the location, facilities, surrounding environment, hygiene, cleanliness, security, architectural designs and safety of the tourist.
   
   Home Stay units which are near the HPTDC units, the professionals of HPTDC will impart training to the owners/staff of the Home Stay units. Concerned DTDO’S will organise such training programmes.  Department of Tourism shall also print a brochure of the registered Home Stay units and also publicise through website and also release print advertisements.
   
   A committee consisting of District Tourism Development Officer or any other officer of the Department of Tourism, Himachal Pradesh, Area Manager, HPTDC concerned of the area and leading hotelier/Travel Agent/Tour Operator (to be constituted by the DTDO) or any officer of the area will inspect the premises being offered and in the event of its being found suitable, the Distt. Tourism Dev. Officer will approve/register the Home Stay Unit. The committee will also approve the rates proposed by the owner in his/her application.
   
   
7. Incentives/Exemptions
   
   The relaxation of taxes/fees (as detailed below) for Home Stay Tourism Units in the rural areas has been provided in order to diversify the tourists from oversaturated areas to other areas and to give a boost to Home Stay and rural tourism to ensure participation of villagers in the sector and make it a House hold affair. Under the said scheme, Home Stay Units in rural areas will be registered by the Department of Tourism and will be provided following incentives/exemptions:
   
   (a) Town & Country Planning Department will charge no change of land use fees from the registered Home Stay units;
   
   (b) Home Stay units would be exempted (upto three rooms) from Luxury and Sales tax/Vat.
   
   (c) Domestic rates for electricity would be charged from the  registered Home Stay Units and
   
   (d) Domestic rates of water would be charged from the registered Home Stay Units.
   
   The exemptions sought above are imperative in order to encourage ordinary house – owners in rural areas to adopt the Home – Stay model. Only Home Stay Units duly registered with the Tourism Department would be eligible for the above incentives.
   
   
8. Responsibility of the House Owner under the Scheme:
   
   (a) Every Home Stay Unit owner shall get the unit registered with the Department of Tourism H.P and follow the guidelines framed there under for the Himachal Pradesh Home Stay, Scheme 2008 which shall be binding on the owner of the Home Stay Unit.
   
   (b) The owner of the Home Stay Unit shall at all times maintain the minimum standards of the cleanliness, sanitation, quality food etc.
   
   (c) The owner will charge the rates approved by the department at the time of registration from the tourists. Rates shall be revised once in two years by the committee on application by the owner.
   
   (d) In case, of overcharging, un- hygienic conditions, misbehaviour, malpractices failure to maintain required standards etc. the registration of the Home Stay unit will be cancelled after giving a reasonable opportunity to the owner. The cancellation will be done by the concerned Distt. Tourism Development Officer.
   
   (e) The owner shall maintain a register for letting out the rooms to the tourists, which can be inspected by the concerned Distt. Tourism Development Officer. The register will have the same format as those presently being used in the Hotels/ Guest Houses.
   
   (f) The owner shall maintain a bill book/ Home Stay pad for issuing the bills to the tourist’s with a stamp.
   
   (g) The owner shall display a registration certificate and rate list issued by the department at the counter of the Home Stay unit for the information of the tourists.
   
   (h) All the Home Stay Unit holders shall to submit Form C with passport details to the nearest Police Station as done by the hotels accommodating foreign tourists.
   
   
9. Registration of the Home Stay:
   
   The registration of Home Stays Units will be done as per the instructions framed at Annexure II. Distt. Tourism Development Officer will issue a Registration certificate and rate list to the Home Stay Unit.  H.P. Tourism Development and Registration Act, 2002 will not be applicable for the registration of Home Stay Units.
   
   The registration of the Home Stay Units will be renewed after five years. If the owner wants to cancel the registration of the unit, he/she may apply to the concerned Distt. Tourism Development Officer on a simple paper.
   
   Procedural formalities required for the Home Stay Unit as well as registration stage is detailed at Annexure- II attached and in the checklist.
   
   
10. Assistance in Reservation/Marketing:
    
    The department of Tourism shall list on its web site, free of charge, the approved Home Stay units on an application by the owner. HPTDC shall also include them in their online Reservation system, on payment of commission as fixed by HPTDC from time to time.
    
     
    
    Checklist for Approval & Registration of Home Stay Unit
    

Annexure - I : Application form under home stay scheme.pdf (19.16 kb)
Annexure - II: List of documents required at the time of homestay registration.pdf (13.30 kb)