Karnataka moves to tighten homestay rules, draft new B&B policy

The Karnataka Tourism Department is preparing to overhaul how homestays are registered and regulated, as the sector's rapid growth across the state's tourist destinations brings safety concerns and a rise in unauthorised establishments into focus.

Under the planned changes, the registration process for homestays is to be streamlined, while existing regulations are set to be tightened. The department is also working on a new Bed & Breakfast policy to govern the segment.

The move follows the mushrooming of homestay accommodations in tourist hotspots, a trend that has outpaced the current oversight framework and left room for properties operating without proper authorisation.

Officials see the twin measures — easier, clearer registration on one side and firmer enforcement on the other — as a way to bring hosts into the formal fold while addressing guest safety concerns.

The details of the revised registration mechanism and the contours of the proposed Bed & Breakfast policy are yet to be made public.