SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government has directed the Tourism Department to finalise a comprehensive Homestay Policy within a month, aiming to strengthen the hospitality sector and boost tourism across the Union Territory. The directive was issued by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo during a high-level meeting attended by officials from the Tourism Department, J&K Bank, and other concerned stakeholders.
The Chief Secretary stressed the need for a structured policy that encourages the development of homestays across all districts, making them a viable option for both locals and tourists. He urged financial institutions to introduce loan products specifically designed to support homestay businesses. He further suggested exploring ways to increase the number of rooms eligible for conversion into homestays and expanding financial assistance for new construction and upgradation. Additionally, he emphasised the importance of integrating the policy with government schemes such as PMEGP and PM Surya Ghar Yojana, ensuring that homestay owners benefit from multiple incentives.
During the meeting, MD and CEO of J&K Bank, Amitava Chatterjee, acknowledged the need for a more refined loan structure and proposed a 1 per cent rebate for customers who repay their loans on time. Meanwhile, Commissioner Secretary, Tourism, Yasha Mudgal, informed that the policy is in its final phase and has already incorporated suggestions from stakeholders in Jammu and Srinagar. She highlighted that the new policy would include training programmes for homestay owners in collaboration with SIDBI, IITM, and other agencies, focusing on digital marketing, social media branding, geo-tagging, and online listing on platforms such as Airbnb, Booking.com, and NIDHI. The policy also seeks to simplify compliance requirements and promote the registration of secondary properties under a structured Bed & Breakfast model.
Alongside policy development, the Chief Secretary also reviewed the progress of a one-stop tourism app, which is being designed to provide seamless access to tourism-related services for both visitors and service providers. The app, developed in collaboration with BISAG-N, will serve as a digital platform offering real-time information about tourist destinations, events, accommodation, and travel services. It will feature tools for customising itineraries, providing insights into adventure and leisure activities such as trekking, wildlife exploration, and cultural tourism. Additionally, it will include a feedback mechanism where tourists can share their experiences about festivals, cuisines, and local traditions.
During the presentation, MD, JKTDC, Fazlul Haseeb, outlined that the app aims to enhance user experience by offering detailed information on nearby medical facilities, shopping centres, and transport services. He stated that a “burger tab” feature would be introduced to allow tourists to tailor their travel plans based on their interests and available time. The app is expected to play a significant role in promoting Jammu and Kashmir as a more accessible and tourist-friendly destination, ensuring that visitors have all necessary services at their fingertips.
