The Indian Express

Mangalore, Jan 15: If everything goes as planned, tourists, especially foreigners need not have to spend so much money in star hotels and resorts, as the concept of `home stay’ will soon be popularised in Dakshina Kannada district.

Moreover, the concept would boost the tourism potential of the district along with a steep rise in the income of farmers and villagers in the district.

‘Home stay,’ which is very popular in Kodagu district, will be introduced soon in the district by the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) in association with the Tourism Department and the district administration.

Once the idea of bringing ‘home stay’ concept to district’s villages comes true, tourists can enjoy a different experience in the green belt, rather than spending their holidays as usual in resorts and hotels.

Speaking to this website’s newspaper on the plans of introducing the concept of home stay, KCCI president K Narasimha Prabhu said that initially the project will be introduced in the green areca and coconut belts of Sullia and Puttur.

As a prelude, a seminar will be held on January 21, where top officials from the Tourism Department, tour operators, travel agents and potential ‘home stay’ owners will be present, he said.

During the seminar, plans will be chalked out on how to showcase Dakshina Kannada as a destination for medical tourism, pilgrim tourism, education tourism, leisure and travel tourism and home stay, he said.

Issues such as the `home stay’ owners can provide, cost and number of rooms they can offer will also be discussed at the seminar, he said and later the details will be discussed with the Tourism Secretary and the potential ‘Home stay’ owners can enrol their names, he added.

Prabhu said that the green lush areas of Sullia and Puttur taluks are earmarked since the place has a large number of areca estates and huge houses which can attract more number of tourists.

Promotion of home stay would also be helpful for farmers, especially areca growers who always suffer due to price fluctuation, he added.

The concept of ‘home stay’ at Coorg has already tasted success and introducing the same here would bring additional revenue to the farmers, Prabhu said.