Uttarakhand: “Homestay from village to global” dialogue was done under the Mukhya Sevak Samvad, Dhami said – Homestays are becoming the main means of livelihood for people

Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday participated in the “Homestay from Village to Global” dialogue program under the Chief Servant Dialogue at the Chief Sevak Sadan located at the Chief Minister’s residence. On this occasion, the Chief Minister interacted with homestay operators from across the state and took their important suggestions to promote homestays in the state.

The Chief Minister said that homestays have been promoted rapidly by the state government. Homestay operators are making the tourists coming to the state aware of the culture, tradition, food, and attire of the state along with good accommodation facilities. He said that the real soul of Uttarakhand resides in the villages. Where a wonderful confluence of natural beauty, rich culture and traditional heritage can be seen at one place. The state government had started the Homestay Scheme to promote local economy and self-employment. Today the Homestay Scheme is making a distinct identity in the remote villages of the state. More than five thousand families of the state have joined this scheme and opened the doors of their homes to tourists. All the people running homestays are brand ambassadors of the state.

The Chief Minister said that along with promoting traditional cuisine by homestay operators in the state, work is also being done to promote the cultural heritage of the state. We have to take this identity from village to global. He said that the state government is continuously working to strengthen the local economy through various policies and schemes. Work is being done towards increasing the livelihood of the people through the ‘One District, Two Products’ scheme. The ‘House of Himalayas’ brand has been launched in the state to give national and international recognition to local products. The state’s millets are also getting a separate identity in the country through the State Millet Mission.

The Chief Minister said that pilgrimage and tourism are the strong base of the state’s economy. Various sectors like religious, adventure, eco-tourism, wellness tourism, agro tourism and film tourism have been promoted rapidly in the state. Like Kedarkhand, religious places of Kumaon region are being developed under the Manaskhand Corridor Scheme. Rishikesh and Haridwar are being promoted globally as yoga and spiritual centers. A single window clearance system has been implemented for film shooting. Special subsidies and other facilities are being provided to filmmakers for shooting in Uttarakhand. As a result of this, Uttarakhand has been awarded the Most Film Friendly State Award at the National Film Awards. Our four villages Jakhol, Harshil, Gunji and Soupi have also been awarded the Best Tourism Village Award by the Union Ministry of Tourism.

Cabinet Minister Shri Satpal Maharaj said that this dialogue program will add a new step of success towards our rural tourism. This program is not only a dialogue, but a big step towards giving global recognition to the soul of our villages. The vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji and the development model of Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami ji also have a strong foundation. He said that this journey from village to global will be successful only when we all adopt it together and turn it into a revolution of sustainable tourism. The Tourism Department has provided financial and management training to 317 (three hundred seventeen) homestay operators in the year 2024-25. This training will be implemented in all districts in the year 2025-26. A coordinated “State Task Force” has been formed in the state, which includes Tourism, Panchayati Raj, Rural Development and Health Departments.

Suggestions from homestay operators

Homestay operator Mrs. Namrata Kandwal from Pauri district said that arrangements for homestay registration should be made at the block level as well. School and college students can also be taken on homestay tours.

Homestay operator Mr. Deepak Bisht from Mukteshwar Nainital said that to promote more and more homestays in the state, its process will have to be simplified. There is also a need to work on how beneficiaries can easily get loans from banks.

Mr. Narendra Singh Bisht of Chamoli said that homestays are being promoted continuously in the state. He said that various homestays should be connected by roads. So that tourists can easily travel and more and more tourists can come to the homestay. He said that work should also be done for waste management and disposal of plastic in the homestay.

Mr. Vicky Rawat of Lansdowne said that more and more sustainable architecture should be used in homestays. We should prepare models of homestays in the state itself. Homestay maps can also be given to other people through the Tourism Department. He also urged to pay special attention to the safety of homestays.

Akhil Pant of Uttarkashi said that the Tourism Department should run an awareness campaign by meeting people at the block and village level. Workshops organized for homestays should also be organized in a homestay. Cabinet Minister Mr. Ganesh Joshi, MLA Dr. Pramod Nainwal, Secretary Mr. Sachin Kurve and others were present on this occasion.