Illegal homestays to face strict action

KOCHI: In the wake of mushrooming illegal home stays, the district administration has decided to take strict action against unauthorised  homestays in the district, especially those in West Kochi region.The decision was taken at a meeting of homestay entrepreneurs, representatives of Kerala State Homestay and Tourism Association (HATS) and  District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC), held at Fort Kochi on Monday. Also, the district Collector Sheik Pareeth attended the meeting. “A committee comprising representatives of district administration, Revenue Department, police and DTPC will verify and sanction applications for homestay once in a month,” Pareeth said.The ‘City Express’ in November had reported on the mushrooming of illegal homestays and the atrocities faced by the foreigners at such facilities. The police had conducted raids in certain homestays, which were functioning illegally. After the raids, the Kerala HATS, a consortium of homestay providers and tourism promoters for the effective co-ordination of tourism activities, launched an awareness campaign among entrepreneurs to ensure transparent functioning of homestays in Kochi.It has been decided that no unauthorised  homestay would be allowed to function in and around city.  The entrepreneurs, who have not obtained licence so far, have been given time to get it before January. DTPC, local  bodies and the police would provide assistance to get the clearances required to open a homestay facility,” said Pareeth.As per the statistics available with the Kerala HATS, while, there are only 65 authorised and classified homestays in Kochi, the number of unauthorised homestays is more than 300. Homestays can be classified into diamond, gold, and silver. A classified homestay is listed and marketed by the Department of Tourism.Owners of classified homestays maintain all requisite parameters while unauthorised ones do nothing and run them as their wish. There was a general feeling that any one can run a an accommodation facility under the name homestay only with police clearance certificate (PCC). Now, the entrepreneurs have to run their facility under the definition of homestay, serviced villa, inn or lodge. It is a very good move on the part of the district administration,” said M P Sivadathan, director, Kerala HATS.