Tourists get bed-breakfast, TN homes some bread-butter

Official sources in the Tourism Department say Bed and Breakfast is a popular concept in Europe, and that foreign tourists would love this sort of thing as it would provide them the opportunity to closely observe local lifestyle. The facility would also, they add, avoid the inconvenience arising from the absence of a quality hotel at many places.

Based on the emerging concept of public-private partnership — in areas where development was essentially considered only the government’s responsibility — ‘Bed and Breakfast’ accommodation is the most sought-after facility in the tourism industry.

Hotels, they say, are the ‘Achilles heel’ as far as the growth of tourism is concerned. Most budget hotels do not match up to tourist expectations in terms of cleanliness and hygiene. Under such circumstances, foreign tourists are not left with much to choose from besides five-star hotels.

‘‘The B-n-B type accommodation, at reasonable rates, is something that could bridge this gap and, if successful, turn out to be a major value-addition to tourists, especially those travelling to remote areas. At the same time, this could mean handsome revenue generation for the local people,’’ says Ramana Rao, who owns a tours and travels agency. However, success depends on the amenities offered and the accommodation. And for that reason, the Department has chalked out an exhaustive list of eligibility norms for those seeking to register.

Starting with the easy accessibility of the house, the list prescribes that the room should be of the minimum size (15 feet/12 feet, have an attached bathroom and a western style toilet, should be well-ventilated mosquito-free, and should be furnished. A telephone connection is a must. A television, radio, air-conditioner, and fridge are just add-ons. But applicants must own the ‘room’ and must provide breakfast to the guest, if need be.

The Department has decided to constitute a committee to look into all aspects related to the scheme including the certification and inspection of the accommodation and their grading at frequent intervals. There will also be a monetary committee, which will keep track of the tourist arrivals.

Though the last date to apply (to the Tamil Nadu Tourism Complex, Wallajah Road, Chennai, or on e-mail to dir-tour@tn.nic.in) is May 15, the first few days of the announcement resulted in the department receiving around 200 calls and about 50 applications a day.