Following the standardisation of electricity tariffs for homestays as per the domestic rates, the Tourism Department is attempting to ensure residential tariff for water charges.
Sources said that the decision for residential tariff on electricity charges for homestays has come as a big boost to the sector and will help homestays emerge as a key driver of future tourism growth in Kerala.
This was initiated in line with the Tourism Policy 2012 which states that the government in consultation with the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) and KERALA Water Authority (KWA) will ensure residential tariff on electricity and water charges for homestay providers.
The State Electricity Regulatory Commission recently approved the proposal to standardise the tariff rates for homestays as per domestic rates, after the Tourism Department took up the issue. The Tourism Department is also pursuing the issue of water tariff with the Kerala Water Authority as this is another major concern for the homestays.
It was pointed out that many enterprising homestay providers have had to close business after they were slapped with commercial rates.
There are nearly 700 homestays registered with the Tourism Department in places where there are English-familiar population, providing authentically traditional cuisine and affordability of high facilities at the Kerala homes, especially in hot tourism destinations.
The Tourism Department has also taken the sector on a priority basis as it is a thriving model for equitable tourism and a tool to face shortage of rooms.
The new policy has also laid stress on promoting ventures like responsible tourism which primarily aims at equitable distribution of gains among the people.
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