Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, RK Mathur launched the homestay incentive items for beneficiaries of Leh district under the New Homestay Policy organised by the Department of Tourism on June 25 at Food Craft Institute in Takskithang.

MP Ladakh, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal; Deputy Chairman, LAHDC Leh, Tsering Angchuk; Secretary, Tourism, Kacho Mehboob Ali Khan and Director, Tourism, Kunzes Angmo were present during the event.

Stressing the need to change the tourism model in Ladakh, LG Mathur emphasized that there should be a geographical spread of tourism activities for the benefit of the rural people of Ladakh. He stated that home stays would enable achieving the decentralization of tourism activities, take us closer to achieving the goal of carbon-neutrality for Ladakh and also improve the standard of cleanliness. He advised that the Tourism Department may provide repeated training to the homestay owners to promote responsible tourism in Ladakh.

LG Mathur stated that good infrastructure, including clean rooms, heating facilities, and hot running water along with clean and hygienic toilets are essential for homestays. He stressed the need to train homestay owners on running the homestays along with equipping them with relevant information for tourists about the place, its history, culture, geology and flora, fauna, etc.

He shared the efforts being made by the Administration for the documentation of the history of all the villages in Ladakh and emphasized the need for village-specific training for the owners of the homestays. He stated that the Hill Councils, elected representatives, and stakeholders in the tourism sector have huge roles to play in promoting homestays to make them a commercially successful venture.
 
LG Mathur advised that a detailed website with a description of homestays may be developed. He shared that he had suggested to the Tourism Department to renovate existing homestays on a priority basis and emphasized the need to improve telecommunications and medical facilities for the convenience of the tourists staying in homestays.

MP Ladakh, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal stressed the need to improve the income of the people in rural areas and promote rural tourism in Ladakh. He suggested the convergence of government and private stakeholders for the successful operation of homestays in Ladakh.

Deputy Chairman, LAHDC Leh, Tsering Angchuk appealed to the beneficiaries to avail the benefits of the scheme and successfully run the homestays.