In response to growing tourism activity in Hassan district, Deputy Commissioner KS Latha Kumari has directed that all homestays and resorts operating in the area must be registered to ensure tourist safety and quality services.
Legal Framework for Registration
The DC stated that accommodation facilities must comply with rules framed under Sub-section (3) of Section 8 of the Karnataka Tourism Trade (Facilitation and Regulation) Act, 2015. According to the Act, no individual is permitted to conduct or operate any tourism trade in regulated tourist destinations without obtaining registration, recognition, or classification under the relevant category.
Mandatory Registration Process
All homestays in Hassan district must now mandatorily register with the Karnataka tourism department. The district houses hundreds of homestays and resorts, and tourism remains a major source of income for residents, providing livelihood to thousands. However, it has been found that a large number of these facilities are operating without a proper legal framework.
Several homestays are functioning without registration, which constitutes a violation of the Act. In this regard, all homestay owners and operators have been instructed to submit the required documents to complete the offline registration process within 15 days. The documents include:
- Gram panchayat no-objection certificate (NOC)
- E-khata or RTC
- Police NOC
- Proof of residence
- Aadhaar card
- Owner's photograph
- Photographs of the homestay
Submission Details
Owners must submit the documents to the Deputy Director, Department of Tourism, at the Yatranivasa premises on AVK College Road in Hassan.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
As per Sub-section (4) of the Act, any person found operating a tourism facility in violation of Sub-section (3) of Section 8, one year after the commencement of the Act, shall be guilty of an offence and, upon conviction, be liable to a fine of up to Rs 10,000.
Contact Information
For further details, homestay operators may contact the Deputy Director of Tourism, Hassan, at 08172-268862 or mobile number 9880028718, the DC said.
