Bhubaneswar: People visiting eco-tourism spots and embarking on nature trails in Odisha will now have homestay options with the government deciding to support such facilities from 2021 for a period of 10 years.
In the first phase, homestay facilities will be developed in Diamond Triangle Buddhist Circuit (Ratnagiri – Udayagiri – Lalitgiri); Onkadelli in Koraput district; Khola, Gupti, Dangmala, Bhitarkanika national park in Kendrapara district; Daringibadi, Belghar in Kandhamal; Simlipal, Pithabata, Jashipur in Mayurbhanj; Tikarpada, Satakosia in Angul; Magalajodi, Chilika in Khurda district and, Dhodrokusum entry point in Bargarh district.
This was decided in a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy on Monday.
“Nature trail and experiential tourism is the current fad, and, Odisha has much to offer in this sector. It is important to develop homestay facilities in the remote areas untouched by hotel network,” said Tripathy, adding that these have the potential to promote local entrepreneurship.
He stressed quality hospitality, hygiene and safety of the tourists.
The chief secretary suggested that these facilities be linked with global online travel aggregators. He directed the departments of Tourism, Forest and Environment to train local homestay unit owners and field level officials properly so that they would be able to provide best cultural, cuisine and social experiences to the tourists.
“The homestay facilities in Magalajodi and Dangmala are showing encouraging results. Such facilities at other places will attract more tourists and will expand economic activities in the rural sector. It can be tapped as a sustainable source of livelihood and income generation activity,” said Development Commissioner Suresh Chandra Mohapatra.
HOMESTAY PLAN 2021
>> Around 80 homestay providers at these places would be incentivised each year with financial support.
>> Each homestay unit can let out 1-6 rooms (up to 12 beds) to guests.
>> The rooms should be on the premises, where the owner or his family members normally reside.
>> The owner or his family members should be directly involved in providing hospitality to the guests.
>> A room should be at least 120 sq ft size for twin sharing with attached bathroom and toilet.
>> There should be a proper fan and air cooler arrangements, kitchen, power back-up, pest control and first-aid facilities.
Officials have been asked to work out details for providing one-time financial support to the owners for proper furnishing and addition of amenities. The Tourism Department has been advised to put in place a proper mechanism at the district level to facilitate and carry forward the intervention.
