Kargil, Dec 02: Tourism Department Kargil today organized an interactive session for Councillors on Revised Homestay Policy 2023 at Tourist Office (Tourist Reception Centre Kargil).
Executive Councilor, Social Welfare/Agriculture/Animal and Sheep Husbandry/ICDS) LAHDC, Kargil, Aga Syeed Mujtaba Mussavi, Executive Councilor, Tourism, KDA/ZDA/Urban Dev/Revenue/CAD/Fisheries, LAHDC Kargil, Kacho Mohammad Feroz and Executive Councilor, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj/ Cooperative/FCS&CA/Forest & Wild Life/Information) LAHDC Kargil, Er. Punchok Tashi, Councilors, SDM Zanskar, SDM Shakar Chiktan, SDM Sankoo, SDM Drass, Assistant Director Tourism Kargil, Agha Syed Toha, District Tourism Officer, Rasool Lal and other concerned officials of Tourism Department were present at the event.
During the event, detailed discussion and deliberations were held on different aspects of the Revised Ladakh Homestay Policy 2023 for its effective implementation in the district.
EC Punchok Tashi suggested that publicity should be done through different media platforms so that people are informed about the Revised Homestay Policy.
EC Kacho Mohammad Feroz stressed on awareness at the village level in order to implement the Revised Homestay Policy in the district.
The event was aimed to raise awareness among the Councilors. EC Feroz suggested the Tourism Department inform the left out Councilors about the Revised Homestay Policy.
He said there is a need to address the loopholes that were there in the previous Homestay Policy. He said the implementation of the policy will help people and stressed the publicity part of tourism.
The EC Feroz said there is a need to involve the local stakeholders in the tourism policy and suggested encouraging their participation in all levels.
He also suggested that the Tourism Department should focus on promotion of local treks and organize outreach programs. The EC said LAHDC Kargil is committed for the promotion of tourism in the district.
He hoped that in future tourism will be promoted and LAHDC is committed to its implementation. The EC thanked the tourism Department for organising the interactive session. He also stressed on Urdu advertisements so that it is easily understood by people at large.
The EC Aga Syeed Mujtaba Mussavi also stressed on exploring the tourist destinations to attract the tourists from national and international level to the district.
Earlier, Assistant Director Tourism Kargil, Agha Syed Toha briefed about the Revised Homestay Policy 2023 and informed about the procedure to fill the application forms to set up the Homestay in the district.
In the revised Homestay Policy there have been many changes that are aimed at facilitating the tourists and make their stay comfortable. Under the new policy, an eligible person/beneficiary will get Rs 3 lakh for setting up the home stay provided he completes all the document formalities and regulations.
The AD said the Tourism Department after following proper procedures will select those beneficiaries who will run Homestays sincerely and it will cover only rural areas in the district.
The District Tourism Officer, Ghulam Rasool Lal also briefed about the Revised Homestay Policy 2023 aimed to promote an ecological sustainable culturally responsible and regenerative tourism experience in the rural areas of Ladakh. He also briefed about the eligibility criteria for applying for Homestay in the district.
He said that a lot of changes have been made by the Tourism Department Ladakh in issuing the Homestay to the beneficiaries so that the border tourism gets further boost.
The Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh recently notified the revised “Ladakh Homestay Policy 2023″ to strengthen the rural economy by promoting responsible and sustainable tourism in the Union Territory of Ladakh. Under the new policy the Councilors of LAHDC Kargil would be one of the members of the District Level verification Committee for their respective constituencies.
The revised policy is drafted based on feedback and inputs from the stakeholders on the earlier Homestay Policy issued in 2020. The policy will be implemented outside the protected areas by the Department of Tourism, Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh, and in the ‘Protected Areas’ by the Department of Wildlife Protection. The home-stays will be located outside the municipal limits of Leh and Kargil town.
