How to get a homestay license in Kerala? Homestay Categories / Rules & Regulation

How and Where to apply for homestay registration in Kerala?

1. You can either collect application form for Homestay Registration from District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) office / Tourism Directorate or Regional Office (Norka Building, 4th Floor, Thycaud. Phone 0471 2335571) Thiruvananthapuram or can apply online.

2. If you are submitting a hard copy, then sent it to the concerned DTPC office. ( For Thiruvananthapuram

3. You have to pay certain amount as registration fees depending on the type of Homestay.

4. The fee for Class A – Diamond House is Rs 3000, for Class B – Gold House is Rs 2000, and for Class C – Silver House is Rs 1000.

5. The amount payable (Challan) to the Director, Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala, payable at Thiruvananthapuram (Sub Treasury, Museum). The fee is not refundable in case of rejection of classification or considering for classification in lower classes.

6. The classification for Homestay units will be given only in those cases where the owner/promoter of the unit along with his/her family is physically residing in the same unit.

7. In case of dissatisfaction with the decision of the categorization on classification, the unit may appeal to the Secretary (Tourism), Government of Kerala within 30 days of receiving the communication regarding classification/reclassification.

8. The application should be accompanied by;

1. a clearance certificate from the Panchayat/ Municipality/Corporation,

2. a Police Clearance Certificate from the Local Station House Officer,

3. document regarding the ownership of the building,

4. the important road stretches from the building,

5. the building plan,

6. a checklist of the facilities and services providing,

7. the checklist should be duly filled in and signed on all pages, &

8. the pictures which depicts the interior and exterior of the house.

Government department granting license:

Department of Tourism, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

List of all related offices in Kerala:

Offices	Telephone Numbers	Email Id
Trivandrum Regional Office Department of Tourism Norka Building, 4th Floor, Thycaud Thiruvananthapuram	0471-2560404 0471-2315397	info@dtpcthiruvananthapuram.com
DTPC, Kollam	0474-2750170	info@dtpckollam.com
DTPC, Pathanamthitta	0468-2311343	info@dtpcpathanamthitta.com
DTPC, Alappuzha	0477-2251796	info@dtpcalappuzha.com
DTPC, Kottayam	0481-2560479	info@dtpckottayam.com
DTPC, Idukki	0486-2232248	info@dtpcidukki.com
DTPC, Ernakulam	0484-2367334	info@dtpcernakulam.com
DTPC, Palakkad	0491-2538996	info@dtpcpalakkad.com
DTPC, Thrissur	0487-2320800	info@dtpcthrissur.com
DTPC, Malappuram	0483-2731504	info@dtpcmalappuram.com
DTPC, Kozhikode	0495-2720012	info@dtpckozhikode.com
DTPC, Wayanad	0493-6202134	info@dtpcwayanad.com
DTPC, Kannur	0497-2706336	info@dtpckannur.com
DTPC, Kasargod	0499-4256450/ 9746553110	info@dtpckasaragod.com

Application form:

You can either collect application form for Homestay Registration from District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) office or can apply online.

Who all can apply?

1. A house having minimum of one room or a maximum of 6 rooms.

2. The house owner or his family members should stay with the guests staying there.

3. At least one family member should have the ability to speak in English.

4. The houses in tourist areas will get more priority to start homestays.

What are the types of buildings which are eligible to get a government license?

1. The building should be in good location with respect to tourism.

2. Maintaining good hygiene.

3. The guest room of the homestay should be;

1. bath attached,

2. the bed room should be 120 sq.ft.,

3. the bathroom should be 30 sq.ft.,

4. the room should have telephone facility, &

5. the facility for pure drinking water.

List of documents / items required at the time of submitting application form:

The application should be accompanied by;

1. a clearance certificate from the Panchayat/ Municipality/Corporation,

2. a Police Clearance Certificate from the Local Station House Officer,

3. document regarding the ownership of the building,

4. the important road stretches from the building,

5. the building plan,

6. a checklist of the facilities and services providing,

7. the checklist should be duly filled in and signed on all pages, &

8. the pictures which depicts the interior and exterior of the house.

Homestay types / categories:

The District Tourism Promotion Council classifies the homestays according to its standards. Depending upon the facilities, the houses are classified under three categories.

1. Diamond House – Class A

2. Gold House – Class B

3. Silver House – Class C

Inspection:

After submission of the application, the local tourism department will conduct an inspection of the property.

1. The presence of facilities and services will be evaluated against the checklist and score sheet by the Committee.

2. The homestays should maintain required standards at all times. The Classification Committee could inspect the unit at any time without prior notice. Any serious faults will be reported to the Department of Tourism and the Department is free to take any action including cancellation of the classification.

3. Any rectification pointed out by the Committee will have to be complied within the set out time. Failure to do so will result in rejection of the application.

4. The Committee may recommend a category either higher or lower than the one which you are applied for. In case of category higher than the one you are applied, you will have to deposit the required fee for the recommended category. However, in case of lower category, there will be no refund of the extra fee.

5. Any changes in the facilities of the unit should be reported to the Secretary, District Tourism Promotion Council within 30 days.

Daily Rental Price limit:

There is no daily rental price limit.

Tax applicable:

Every homestay where the daily charges of accommodation including other amenities provided is Rs 1000 or more should pay luxury tax.