Chandigarh lesson in Punjab’s bed & breakfast

Now,Amritsar will serve as the pilot for the revived scheme,Punjab principal secretary (tourism) Geetika Kalha said. If it succeeds,it will be extended to other major urban centres like Patiala,Mohali and Ludhiana. An advertisement within the next month will invite house owners in Amritsar to apply.

The scheme will be applicable only when the owners/promoters themselves reside on the premises with their families.

The Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board (PHTPB) will register homes after inspection and interview,monitor quality standards through independent inspection,and train home owners . The policy document specifies that while the board will administer,monitor and market the scheme,the responsibility for promoting each individual home and making a success of the business will be entirely in the hands of the house-owner.

Four parties will be involved in the selection procedure. These are the applicant,an independent inspection team,the training providers and representatives of the Board. The government has recommended that the house owners be fluent in English and Hindi,and the quality of the property should be high in terms of comfort,facilities and hygiene. The professional and educational background of the applicant and the family members,and any previous relevant hospitality experience will also be taken into consideration.

The board has specified that it can authorise any qualified inspector to make an anonymous inspection on the premises at any time without notice.

Kalha said the scheme is being launched to supplement the availability of accommodation in cities and tourist destinations. “The basic idea is to provide a clean and affordable place for foreigners and domestic tourists alike,and give them an opportunity to stay with an Indian family,experience the culture and tradition of Punjab,and relish authentic Punjabi food if they want to,” she said.