The Uttar Pradesh Government has formally approved the ‘Bed and Breakfast (B&B) and Homestay Policy 2025,’ a landmark initiative designed to significantly expand accommodation options, particularly for pilgrims and tourists across the state.
This progressive policy directly addresses the persistent challenge of lodging shortages during peak seasons at popular religious and tourist destinations, where hotels frequently reach full capacity. By empowering local residents in cities like Lucknow, Kanpur, and other districts to register their homes as official homestays, the government is not only alleviating accommodation pressure but also fostering grassroots economic development and promoting a more intimate, culturally immersive travel experience.
According to the Principal Secretary (Tourism), the newly enacted policy offers a streamlined framework for residents living in proximity to religious or tourist sites to register between one and six rooms, accommodating up to 12 beds, as official homestay units. Guests will be permitted to stay for up to seven consecutive days, with a provision for extension upon renewal, offering crucial flexibility for travellers. This decentralised approach to lodging development reduces the reliance on large-scale, often environmentally impactful, hotel constructions, aligning with principles of sustainable tourism and eco-friendly urban development.
The registration process for these homestays will be managed by a dedicated district-level committee, chaired by the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, ensuring robust oversight and accountability. The policy introduces a tiered registration fee structure, ranging from a nominal ₹500 to ₹750 for properties in rural areas, and ₹2,000 to ₹3,500 in urban areas. This affordability is crucial for encouraging widespread participation from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. Previously, many homestay operators faced bureaucratic hurdles, often limited to listing on the central government’s NIDHI+ portal. The new, streamlined local registration process, requiring only a no-objection certificate (NOC) from relevant authorities, significantly simplifies compliance and encourages more informal setups to join the formal tourism economy.
A pivotal aspect of the 2025 policy is its inclusion of substantial financial support and incentives aimed at encouraging locals to actively participate in opening homestay and B&B units. Officials believe this initiative transcends mere accommodation provision; it is fundamentally about “generating income and employment at the grassroots level.” By empowering local families, including women who often manage such ventures, the policy promotes gender-neutral economic opportunities directly within communities. This grassroots engagement ensures that the economic benefits of tourism are equitably distributed, fostering stronger local economies and more resilient communities.
Beyond the direct financial gains for individual households, the cumulative impact of this policy is expected to contribute significantly to both economic growth and a more robust and diverse tourism ecosystem across Uttar Pradesh. Homestays inherently promote authentic cultural exchange, offering visitors a unique insight into local life and traditions, which often results in lower carbon footprints compared to conventional tourism models. By diversifying accommodation options, the state reduces its vulnerability to fluctuations in the hotel sector and builds a more sustainable tourism infrastructure capable of handling high pilgrim volumes efficiently and equitably. The strategic implementation of this policy positions Uttar Pradesh as a pioneering state in promoting community-led, sustainable tourism development, benefiting both the environment and its citizens.
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