UP Cabinet Clears Homestay Policy To Ease Tourist Rush; Announces 'Aannapurna Bhawans' For PDS Boost

The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has cleared the ‘Bed and Breakfast and Homestay Policy-2025’, aimed at easing accommodation pressure at religious and tourist destinations by enabling private households to offer short-term lodging facilities.

The new policy allows residents near such sites to register homestays of 1 to 6 rooms (up to 12 beds). Tourists may stay for up to 7 days, with an option to extend. Safety and registration will be overseen by a district-level committee chaired by the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police.

According to the Tourism Department, overcrowding at religious hubs like Varanasi, Ayodhya, and Prayagraj often leaves visitors without rooms. The new framework hopes to relieve this burden, especially during festivals and peak travel seasons.

The Cabinet approved 10 out of 11 proposals in Tuesday's meeting. One key aspect of the policy is a tiered registration fee: ₹500–750 for rural homestays and ₹2,000 for urban or silver category listings. Earlier, homestays could only be registered via the central government’s NIDHI+ portal. Now, state-level registration with a local no-objection certificate (NOC) will suffice.

The policy includes provisions for incentives and financial assistance to encourage residents to open parts of their homes to visitors. It is expected to improve lodging accessibility, generate rural employment, and integrate local communities into the tourism economy.