As the festive season of Durga Puja approaches, 2,247 homestays scattered across Bengal, including Kolkata, are preparing to adorn themselves with elegant plaques, a gesture aimed at extending warm greetings to both local and foreign tourists.
Babul Supriyo, the Bengal Tourism Minister, shed light on the initiative, stating, “These particular homestays have been registered with us and have received INR 1 lakh from the government to ensure that they meet the basic minimum hosting standards for tourists.”
The decision to introduce these distinctive plaques emerged from the advice of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Supriyo explained, “In line with our efforts to enhance the visitor experience, these plaques have been crafted to set apart the registered homestays. Through our official website, we actively promote each registered homestay, allowing tourists to conveniently make online bookings. The plaque’s design has already been approved by the Chief Minister, and their installation will be overseen by the district administration.”
An officer from the tourism department highlighted, “This measure emphasizes the commitment to maintaining quality and uniformity. Registered homestays, having agreed to our terms and conditions, are obligated to meet certain criteria.”
The tourism minister said that the introduction of the homestay policy has facilitated property owners in listing their spaces on the official state tourism portal, streamlining the booking process for tourists. A noteworthy aspect is that heritage properties stand a higher chance of achieving the ‘gold-category’ status, which translates into enhanced revenue and prominence within the state’s dynamic tourism sector.
To ensure ongoing adherence to fundamental standards, District Magistrates from each district will conduct periodic inspections. Owners of homestays spread across different districts have participated in training sessions focusing on understanding and implementing the essential amenities and cleanliness that the properties should have.