In Ayodhya, homestays emerge as new business opportunity for locals
Ayodhya, was a business manager with a leading insurance company before he lost his job during Covid-19 two years ago and was rendered unemployed. Troubles mounted when his father was diagnosed with cancer, adding to his distress.
Now, Singh is one of close to 500 operators of homestays in the temple town and expects an Uttar Pradesh government initiative to promote the model to help lift his fortunes in the days to come.
Premier hotel groups like the Radisson Hotel Group, Indian Hotels Company that runs the Taj hotels and Marriott International, as well as chains like Praveg with its 'tent-cities' are all landing up in Ayodhya to cash in on the hospitality boom expected after the opening of the Ram temple on January 22. Apart from these, the UP government has been incentivising locals to open homestays in their houses in a bid to offer them a livelihood.
The government has identified the model as a «non-commercial venture» — the classification exempts homestays from paying any commercial tax — to encourage households to sign up.
According to Ayodhya Development Authority (ADA) officials, in the last one year, 600 households have applied for homestay certificates. Of these, 464 have been granted the certificate and have started operations.
«We have been given a target of preparing at least 1,000 homestays by next year,» Rakesh Kumar Singh, a consultant with the ADA and the nodal officer for the homestay scheme, told ET.
“The aim is to increase the per capita income of the town. Since there is virtually no industrial presence or factories, this will emerge as a good source of income," Singh said.
Up to 100,000 devotees are expected to visit Ayodhya every day after the inauguration of the temple.
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