As a result of sustained promotional activity of the Department, Eco-tourism in Western Ghat districts like Kodagu, Chikmaglur, Shimoga, Udupi and Karwar Districts are coming forward to use their houses as tourist stay. Thus, in order to meet the supply and demand gap of hotel rooms and to maintain serene atmosphere in the Western Ghats, the Department firmly believes in encouraging home stay facilities. This is the scheme for promoting Athithi Karnataka Home Stay facility.

1. ATHITHI – Karnataka Home Stay Scheme

Karnataka has large numbers of well constructed houses in which there are unused rooms for converting into tourist accommodation with minimal improvements including estate bungalows, heritage homes, farm houses and vacant houses. Already many families are coming forward to share their homes with tourists as home stays and there are some excellent home stays offered to the tourists in the State. Department of Tourism, Government of Karnataka has already enrolled some home stays in the State and published in the Department Website. But the guidelines for the approval were not clearly defined to make the program a success.

Department of Tourism now intends to bring out a new scheme for Home Stays called ‘Athithi’. Home Stays will be minimally regulated and will be treated as non-commercial activity. Home Stays will be classified by bringing out clear guidelines on the required facilities, procedures for classification, benefits to operators, benefits to the community and the tourists etc. and to encourage the locals for participating in the scheme to increase the room capacity in the state with minimal investment.

2. OBJECTIVE OF THE SCHEME

• To increase the room capacity to accommodate tourists without compromising the quality of facilities, service and traditions through home stays by introducing classification system for the home stay units.
• To help the tourists to have a first hand experience of the rich culture and heritage of the State of Karnataka.
• To encourage the locals in earning some additional income other than his/her regular income and sustained employment by optimally utilizing the infrastructure they have already developed.
• To allow penetrating the benefit of tourism directly to the local population and empowering the common man in promotion of tourism in the state by minimizing it’s negative impacts.

3. TARGET

1500 classified home stay units with approximately 5000 rooms in the next 3 years.

4. BENEFITS

• Creation of 5000 quality rooms for tourist accommodation with minimal investment.
• Effective way of cultural exchange and promotion of the traditions and heritage to the tourists.
• Dispersal of the tourism activity into the rural areas and penetration of the benefit of tourism directly to the common man.
• Sustained direct employment to about 7500 persons.
• Investment of about Rs.75 Crores from the local people in tourism.

Benefits to the Home-Stay operators

• Earning a additional income other than his/her regular income and sustained employment.
• Use of Karnataka Tourism Brand for marketing.
• Support from the Government in Capacity building.
• Facilitation by Government in getting loans from the financial institutions for the improvement of the existing houses for it’s conversion into home-stay.

5. ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE SCHEME

• Individuals or families who own a house of good quality in the state and can spare at least 2 rooms for tourist accommodation.
• The classification will be given only in those cases where the owner / promoter of the unit along with his/her family is physically residing in the same unit.
• A Police Clearance certificate from Local Station House Officer shall to be submitted along with the application.
• Maximum number of rooms for offering to the tourists shall be limited to 5.
• At least one of the family members should be able to communicate in English.
• The houses in areas of tourism importance will get priority.

6. PROCEDURE FOR SELECTION

Selection of the home-stays from among the applicants will be done by a committee appointed by Government for the purpose, based on the following criteria

• Location of the house
• Quality of house and surrounding areas in terms of facilities & hygiene for offering to tourists.
• Access
• Educational and professional background of the applicant and family members.
• Tourist attraction of the area.

The committee for classification of Home stays units constituted by Government for the purpose will visit the unit and if found satisfactory with the facilities recommend to Department of Tourism for the classification of the unit. The order on classification will be issued by Department of Tourism, Government of Karnataka.

Checklist for approval & registration of home stay Establishment

Note: The grading in the various categories will depend on the quality of accommodation, facilities and services provided.

General Standard Premium

• Well maintained and well equipped house and guest rooms with quality carpets / area rugs /tiles or marble flooring, furniture, fittings, etc. in keeping with the traditional lifestyle.
• Sufficient Parking and Guest Rooms.
• Minimum one lettable room and maximum 5 rooms (10 beds)
• All rooms should be clean, airy, pest free, without dampness and with outside window/ventilation.
• Minimum floor area in sq. ft. for each room 200
• Comfortable bed with good quality linen & bedding, preferably of Indian design.
• Attached Private Bathrooms with every room along with toiletries.
• Minimum size of each bathroom in square feet 30-40
• Western WC toilet to have a seat and lid, toilet paper.
• 24 hours running hot & cold water with proper sewage connection
• Water saving taps / shower
• Well maintained smoke free, clean, hygienic, odour free, pest free kitchen
• Dining area serving fresh Continental and / or traditional
• Indian breakfast
• Good quality cutlery and crockery
• Air conditioning/heating depending on climatic conditions with room temp. between 20 to 25 degrees C
• Iron with iron board on request
• A 15 amp earthed power socket in the guest room
• Internet Connection
• Telephone with extension facility in the room
• Wardrobe with at least 4 clothes hangers in the guest room
• Shelves or drawer space in the guest rooms
• Complimentary aqua guard/RO/mineral water
• Good quality chairs, working table and other necessary furniture
• Washing Machines/dryers in the house with arrangements for laundry /dry cleaning services
• A lounge or seating arrangement in the lobby area
• Heating and cooling to be provided in enclosed public rooms
• Garbage disposal facilities as per Municipal laws
• Acceptance of cash/cheque/DD
• Name, address and telephone number of doctors
• Assistance with luggage on request
• Safekeeping facilities in the room
• Smoke/heat detectors in the house
• Security guard facilities
• Maintenance of register for guest check-in and check records