Photo used for indicative purpose only Source: Internet
Shimla, Jan 17,
Moving a step to bring regulatory clarity to Himachal Pradesh’s rapidly expanding tourism accommodation sector, the State government has made registration of all homestay and bed-and-breakfast (B&B) units mandatory under the newly notified HP Homestay Rules, 2025.
District Tourism Development Officer, Shimla, Jagdish Sharma, said the rules have been notified through an official gazette and will apply uniformly across the state. He said no homestay or tourism accommodation unit will be permitted to operate without registration under the new framework.
Under Clause 6 of the HP Homestay Rules, 2025, all units currently operating under the Government of India’s Incredible India Bed & Breakfast Establishment Scheme, Incredible India Homestay Establishment Scheme, or the HP Homestay Scheme, 2008, must apply for fresh registration within 30 days from the date of publication of the rules in the gazette.
The application is required to be submitted through the e-Services portal in the prescribed format (Annexure-I) before the designated authority of the respective jurisdiction, he added.
However, rhe state government has clarified that existing registered units will not be charged any registration fee until the expiry of their current validity. Though once that validity period ends, continued operation will be governed strictly by the provisions of the 2025 rules.
Officials further warned that any such unit found operating without valid registration under the new rules will face action as prescribed under the HP Homestay Rules, 2025.
The decision assumes significance in the backdrop of the scale of un-mapped accommodation units in the state. According to tourism department estimates and recent government-linked data, Himachal Pradesh currently has around 4,800 to 5,000 homestay and B&B-type units, offering over 80,000 rooms and nearly 1.7 lakh bed capacity across districts. A substantial number of these units are registered under Government of India schemes and have no concern with the State government.
This gap has long posed a challenge in mapping, monitoring and regulating homestay and B&B operations, particularly in high-tourism regions where issues of safety, taxation, waste management and carrying capacity have become increasingly critical.
Officials said the new rules are aimed at creating a consolidated, state-level database of all accommodation units, improving regulatory oversight and ensuring better planning and compliance.
All homestay and B&B owners have been urged to ensure immediate compliance and complete the mandatory registration process within timeframe.
About the Author
The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.
