The Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board has launched an online booking portal for homestays in the hill state, accessible at www.uttarastays.com. This pioneering initiative is likely the first of its kind by any state tourism department, providing a state-sponsored platform for booking homestays.
Homestay owners can easily integrate their properties on the portal by providing necessary information and signing an agreement. Notably, there are no integration charges, platform fees, or revenue-sharing requirements with Uttarakhand Tourism.
The portal offers authentic information about homestays and a seamless online booking mechanism. Users can also rate the homestays, providing real-time feedback to owners and encouraging service improvements.
With nearly 5,000 homestays registered with the department, Uttarakhand Tourism is committed to promoting the local economy through tourism-related activities. This initiative supports homestay owners by offering an online platform at no cost.
This effort provides small homestay owners with an online booking medium. The Uttarakhand Tourism Department also offers subsidies under the Deendayal Upadhyay Homestay Scheme to develop homestays and provides training to owners to enhance their customer service skills. The new portal adds another dimension to promoting homestays.
Sachin Kurve, Secretary Tourism and CEO of UTDB, stated that this three-pronged strategy—government support through infrastructure subsidies, skill-based training for homestay owners, and marketing support via the online portal—will be a milestone in establishing a robust homestay network in the state. He further invited all homestay owners to register on the portal.
Future plans include linking homestays with wellness centers in their respective areas, allowing tourists to benefit from services like yoga, naturopathy, panchakarma, and Ayurvedic massages.