The government of Ladakh has finally unveiled its much-awaited Ladakh Homestay Policy 2023. Under this policy, which is made with the primary aim of boosting sustainable tourism, homestays are said to grow exponentially. The government is also incentivising homestays and providing financial aid to those who might want to open a homestay of their own. Here are all the details that you would need to know about this particular policy on tourism in Ladakh.
Ladakh Homestay Policy 2023: All About This New Policy
This particular policy will be valid for the next five years and during that time, it aims to establish more than 10,000 homestays across the Union Territory. Arrangements for the Chadar Trek which takes place on the frozen Zanskar Lake have also been finalised. What is more, the government is also providing several incentives for people who are offering a homestay.
Of the 10,000 homestays that the government aims to have by the next five years, half will be located in areas like reserves and wildlife sanctuaries as well as parks. In order for it to be a homestay, there is a certain set of criteria that needs to be followed by those who have applied to offer a homestay. A committee will be set up to evaluate the applicants.
The applicants will be assessed on a number of factors like education, age, professional background, employment status, and more. The criteria will also give primacy to ex-servicemen or ex-Agniveer. One of the things mandated in the policy for homestays is that they should all have flush toilets. This is because most tourists prefer such toilets.
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Homestays Will Grow Exponentially Over The Next Five Years
It is also stipulated in the policy that applicants can avail a fiscal incentive of up to 75 per cent of the total cost of construction up to ₹1,25,000. What is more, applicants who are new or who are applying for the first time can avail a cash benefit of up to ₹50,000 for maintenance and repair. These measures are being undertaken by the government in order to encourage rural tourism.
The route for the famous Chadar trek has also been finalised. The Border Roads Organisation or the BRO wanted to accommodate the ongoing construction of the Nimu-Padum-Darcha road. Hence, the route for the trek was changed by the BRO. The change was done to ensure that minimal disruption is caused to the ongoing construction.
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Have you ever wanted to visit Ladakh? Does this update make you want to visit it? Let us know in the comments section below!
Click here to learn more about this new policy in Ladakh on tourism.
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