How to start a Homestay business in Kerala?
Homestay business is flourishing in Kerala. Considering the huge potential of tourism industry in Kerala, government has regularized this business. If you have a house in Kerala and want to run a Homestay, you need to obtain the license. Here is how to apply for Homestay License in Kerala.
Kerala is the Tourism Paradise in South India. The Kerala State Tourism Department of Government of Kerala is administering authority for promotion of tourism business in the state. HomeStay business is full of possibilities. To start a HomeStay, one needs approval from the government authority. An authorized Homestay in Kerala can use Logo of Kerala Tourism Department in business which a quality of seal.
The Homestay business has three categories:
1. Diamond House - Class A
2. Gold House - Class B
3. Silver House - Class C
The houses in proximity to different tourist places are preferred choices of government to give license. The minimum space requirement of a house is 1 room and maximum 6 rooms to obtain the license from the government. In the Homestay, house owner / members of the family stay with the guests. Also, at least one family member should be fluent in English so as to communicate with guests.
A homestay in Munnar
If you have a House in Kerala and want to start Homestay business, apply for License to
The Director,
Department of Tourism,
Thiruvananthapuram,
Kerala
You can obtain the homestay license application from the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) office.
If you cannot meet the strict rules and requirements for the homestay operations, then you may consider converting into a speciality stay business (mini resort). A typical example is, Pappy's Nest in Wayanad, which was originally proposed as a home stay but later started as an affordable budget resort.
Fees for obtaining Homestay License in Kerala
Class A: Rs. 3000/-
Class B: Rs. 2000/-
Class C: Rs. 1000/-
The Homestay application must accompany the following documents:
1. clearance certificate from the Panchayat/Municipality/Corporation
2. clearance certificate from the local police station
3. document regarding the ownership of the building
4. roadmap near the area of the building
5. the building plan
6. the pictures showing the interior of the house.Conditions for issuing a Home Stay Certificate
Some Important factors that government authorities take into consideration for allotting Homestay License are: the location of the building, hygiene, educational qualification of the applicant and his / her family members and the importance of the place with respect to tourism.
Related: Is it safe to stay in homestays in Kerala?
The guest room in the homestay should have:
Bedroom of minimum 120 sq. ft. carpet area
Attached bathroom of 30 sq.feet space
Telephone facility
Facility for pure drinking waterHire a digital marketing agency
It is a good idea to hire a digital marketing agency which can take care of building a brand and promote your homestay business. No matter how good is your property, without proper online marketing and promotions, you may not be able to reach potential customers. A digital marketing agency can help you build a good presence on the web. According to various statistics, more than 85% of the tourists find a homestay or hotel by searching on the internet. A digital marketing company can optimize your website and promote it on the internet so that your website will appear when your potential customers search for such properties. If you are planning to hire a digital marketing agency, we recommend SpiderWorks Technologies, a trusted digital marketing company with proven track record in hospitality business marketing and promotions.
Contact details:
Name of company: SpiderWorks Technologies
Email: contact@spiderworks.in
Website: http://www.spiderworks.in
Phone: +91 94955 59690
For more information on Home Stay, enquire at the respective District Tourism Promotion Council office or at:
Department of Tourism,
Park View,
Thiruvananthapuram,
Kerala - 695003
Phone : 0471 232279
You can find contact details of various DTPC office here: https://www.keralatourism.org/dtpc.php
Home Stay Owners Association Website: http://www.keralahomestaysonline.com/
What about registration certificate from food and safety commissioner? Can you please tell me in which business category food catering in homestays are. It is required for online registration at FSSAI portal of food corporation of india.