Home stay concept must be popularized to boost tourism – DC

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Sep 27, 2012 : Speaking at a program held to observe World Tourism Day on September 27, Thursday, DC Dr. N. S. Channappa said that awareness needs to be created about home stays and myths regarding home stays must be debunked in order to boost tourism.

 

 

Although the state government has licensed home stays in a bid to boost tourism, the recent attack on the Morning Mist Home Stay has created a lot of wrong ideas about the concept of home stay.

Speaking on the need to capitalize on the flow of tourists to Dakshina Kannada, he said that around 90 lakh to 1 crore people visit Dharmasthala, 45 lakh people visit Subrahmanya, 15 lakh people visit Kateel Temple, and 14 lakh people visit Kadri Temple every year. Stating that the district has failed to encourage these people to visit any other tourist spot, he urged hotels to guide tourist.

Stating that DK still has a lot of do in terms of improving infrastructure and providing basic facilities, he said that the district has not accepted tourists the way Kerala and Goa have. Although lakhs of people fly to Mangalore annually since the city is a medical and educational hub, the district has not used this opportunity to boost tourism.

MUDA Commissioner Ajith Kumar Hegde gave a presentation on home stays and how a home stay ought to be run. According to the rules, the owner of the home stay needs to live in the home stay. Besides, a home stay can have only five rooms with a minimum of 2 rooms for tourists. Home stays are also required to provide facilities such as easy access, bathrooms, food, and so on. The government also considers the educational background of the home stay owner before issuing a license. The home stay owner must also produce proof of ownership and police clearance certificates in order to get a license.

Speaking on the occasion, the owner of a home stay said that the concept of home stay hasn’t picked up in Mangalore although it works very well in Chikmagalur and Coorg. He urged the government to make sure that tourists opting to stay at home stays are protected as the recent home stay attack has wrecked the reputation of home stays.

The DC said that the he will think over the idea of collecting applications for home stays at the district level to identify more home stay owners looking for a license. He also urged the departments of police, tourism, Mescom, and so on to coordinate in creating awareness regarding the home stay concept and in preventing their harassment.

Mayor Gulzar Banu, MCC Commissioner Harish Kumar, KCCI President Mohammed Ameen, Assistant Director of Tourism U. Jitendranath, and CEO of Panambur Beach Tourism Development Project Yathish Baikampady were also present.