Himachal CM Sukhu launches Homestay Portal, directs relief for hospitality sector
Babushahi Bureau
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh), February 2, 2026:Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday launched the state’s homestay registration portal (http://homestay.hp.gov.in), enabling applicants to register homestays online from the comfort of their homes through a simplified and user-friendly process.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that the state government is committed to providing maximum facilitation to homestay operators and hotel owners to ensure that their businesses are not adversely affected. He emphasized that hospitality stakeholders should not be harassed on the pretext of objections.
In a significant move to boost the hospitality sector, the Chief Minister directed that renewal of homestay and hotel registrations should not be stalled due to delays in obtaining Fire No Objection Certificates (NOC). He instructed the Tourism Department to grant provisional registrations in such cases, allowing businesses to continue operations smoothly.
Highlighting the importance of tourism in the state’s economy, Sukhu said the homestay scheme was introduced to promote self-employment through tourism, particularly by encouraging rural tourism and drawing visitors to unexplored destinations. He added that given tourism’s growing contribution to state revenue, the scope of the homestay scheme has now been extended to urban areas as well, creating wider self-employment opportunities.
Under the scheme, homestays with a maximum of six rooms can be registered. The Chief Minister said that homestay operations not only provide quality accommodation to tourists but also generate sustainable income for homeowners. He noted that offering local cuisine enhances tourist experience and increases earnings, while traditional village homes, especially, attract foreign tourists.
The Chief Minister also informed that the government has introduced an interest subsidy scheme under the homestay programme to encourage greater participation. Interest subsidies of 3 per cent in urban areas, 4 per cent in rural areas, and 5 per cent in tribal regions are being provided on term loans for setting up, expanding, or upgrading tourism units.
The meeting was attended virtually by R.S. Bali, Vice Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Board. Naresh Chauhan, Principal Media Advisor to the Chief Minister, Devesh Kumar, Principal Secretary, and Vivek Bhatia, Director, Tourism Department, were present in Shimla.