UP homestay policy rollout nets a high

Lucknow: The number of registered homestays in UP recorded a significant increase within a short span of about eight months.This was due to the rapid on-ground rollout of the state's bed and breakfast and homestay policy, which was introduced in mid-2025.Official figures indicate that the number of registrations crossed the 2,000 mark since the launch of the policy in mid-2025. Of these, 750 were certified, while the remaining were under a fast-tracked process.Tourism and culture minister Jaiveer Singh said that the numbers spoke for the state's focus and push to create employment through the tourism sector."Tourism sector is one of the key pillars of UP's vision to become a 1 trillion-dollar economy. The surge in homestay registrations indicates that our efforts to boost the tourism economy in the state are on track," said Singh.Additional chief secretary Amrit Abhijat said that the numbers also spoke for the "speed of work". "While, on one hand, the state came up with a robust policy framework, it is working to translate the policy into action. Faster scrutiny, district-level monitoring committees, and dedicated awareness campaigns have an important role to play," he said."UP has plans to create one lakh rooms under the bed and breakfast framework in a time-bound manner to meet rising demand, and the enthusiasm speaks not just for the opportunity but also for the public's confidence in the govt," said Harsh Vardhan Pandey, who quit his management job in Bengaluru to start a homestay in Varanasi.The policy permits residents to register either as urban or rural homestays and offer up to six rooms with a maximum of 12 beds, provided the owner resides on the premises and meets prescribed infrastructure standards such as proper bedrooms, toilets, electricity and water supply.Officials said the initiative is designed to expand accommodation capacity while generating income at the household level, supporting reverse migration and enabling families with spare rooms to earn locally."Expansion is based on distributed micro-inventory rather than large hotel infrastructure. The approach is faster, lower-cost and socially embedded," they said.