Gangtok, Sept 13: Now homestays in Sikkim will be run and operated only by the local entrepreneur owing the business.

The Sikkim government has banned homestay owners in the Himalayan state from leasing or renting their establishments to any third party.

On September 11, an advisory was issued by the state government’s Tourism and Civil Aviation Department. As per the Sikkim Registration of Homestay Establishment Rules of 2013, homestay owners are not permitted to lease or rent their homestay unit to any third party, and they are advised to comply with the same.

The Homestay Association of Sikkim (HAS) has been demanding a ban on the leasing and renting of homestay establishments to any third party.

The Sikkim government provides subsidised loans for the establishment of homestays in the Himalayan state to promote entrepreneurship amongst local stakeholders in the tourism industry.

Sikkim has witnessed more than 8 lakh tourists, including domestic and international, in the last six months.

According to official figures, Sikkim receives 8,58,506 tourists, including domestic and international students, which is more than 22,000 more than last year.

“More than 2,50,000 lakh people are directly or indirectly associated with the tourism industry, and as per estimates, the industry is yielding more than 500 crore in revenue, which was the same before the COVID-19 pandemic,” said an official.

Also read: Why Meghalaya want to stay away from Palm Oil plantations? 

WATCH:

Find latest news from every corner of Northeast India at hubnetwork.in, your online source for breaking news, video coverage.

Also, Follow us on-

Twitter-twitter.com/nemediahub

Youtube channel- www.youtube.com/@NortheastMediaHub2020

Instagram- www.instagram.com/nemediahub