The Hindu Business Line : Call for regulatory mechanism to preserve eco sensitive regions

Call for regulation
A strong regulatory mechanism is required to protect the environment
Adherence to other regulatory guidelines regarding liquor licensing, child labour exploitation and local area issues equally important

Bangalore , Aug. 10

Home Stay, which is attracting a larger number of domestic and international tourists, should be developed as a niche product with an emphasis on protection of the heritage and ecology of the region, as it was becoming popular with eco-tourists. However, a regulatory mechanism should govern the preservation of these unique regions and the buildings in ecologically sensitive regions to enhance the destinations' durability.

Focus on Home Stay

Speakers at the `Connect', an annual meet held by the Department of Tourism here on Thursday, felt that in the wake of tourism assuming niche segments like medical tourism, the need to focus on Home Stay as a special attraction assumed importance.

The meet organised to highlight the issues and challenges faced by Home Stays, pointed out that there were 800 Home Stays in Kodagu or Coorg in Karnataka and that it was fast emerging as an industry.

The Tourism Minister, Mr B. Sriramulu, assured the representatives of Home Stay segment that he would resolve the issues faced by them soon and that he had already placed it before the Chief Minister.

Strict norms

Mr Chiranjeev Singh, former Additional Chief Secretary of Karnataka, said unlike Coorg, which had a homogenous character and culture of its own, Home Stays in other places like Goa were part of mass tourism. This necessitated a strong regulatory mechanism to protect the environment, while ensuring adherence to other regulatory guidelines regarding liquor licensing, child labour exploitation and local area issues. was equally important.

Bed & Breakfast accommodation, as Home Stays are known in developed countries, were strictly regulated, he said, adding that Home Stays must not be allowed to degenerate into purely a commercial proposition, especially as lack of accommodation and increasing popularity of Asia as a popular tourist destination could put pressure on the segment.

Mr I.M. Vittala Murty, Secretary-Tourism, said the meet was the first of many Mini Connects to be organised to discuss the issues and challenges faced by Home Stay segment of tourism. The meet was attended by representatives from the Government.

There were representatives from excise, commercial taxes, Public Works Department and from the district to draw up policy guidelines for the overall development of this segment.

Mr P.C. Nayak, Convenor of Karnataka chapter of Indian National Arts, Culture and Heritage, stressed the need for documentation of the heritage buildings, which formed part of the Home Stays in Coorg.