Charting a smooth path for hosts & guests

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A homestay in Kodagu near Talacauvery. According to the Tourism Department, there are around 4,000 registered homestays in Karnataka. They are mostly concentrated in Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, Shivamogga, and Hampi. | Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR

A home away from home. That is the promise of homestays for tourists travelling from other countries, States, and cities to major tourist destinations in Karnataka. Local families in these accommodations offer tourists a warm and homely atmosphere even as they introduce them to a new culture and guide them to places to visit.

Such accommodations have caught the fancy of tourists in recent years, and according to the Tourism Department officials, there are around 4,000 homestays registered in Karnataka. They are mostly concentrated in Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, Shivamogga in south Karnataka, and Hampi in Vijayanagara district in north Karnataka. These districts attract majority of tourists during monsoon, weekends, and holidays.

However, some untoward incidents in recent times have raised questions about the enforcement of regulations. Most recently, in June 2026, during the hearing of an alleged rape case in a Kodagu homestay, the Karnataka High Court urged the State government and the Tourism Department to frame comprehensive, multisector policies to address safety, compliance, and consumer protection concerns in the hospitality industry.

As per rules, it is mandatory for homestays across the State to register through the online portal of the Tourism Department or the Seva Sindhu Portal under the revised Karnataka Homestay Registration Guidelines, 2025.

Speaking to The Hindu , a senior official from the Tourism Department said that homestays have existed in Karnataka for decades and guidelines were put in place way back in 2006-07. “Since then, the registration of homestays is mandatory. From the past two years, the process has shifted to online portal. However, after some incidents came to light and keeping safety of tourists in mind, we implemented it strictly from June 2026. The department has instructed all district commissioners, in places where homestays come up, to implement the guidelines without fail.”

Despite the guidelines by the department, thousands of unauthorised homestays or Bed & Breakfasts (B&Bs) have come up across tourist destinations in the State. Neither the homestay associations nor the department has an estimate of them, but they agree that such businesses exist.

A Tourism Department official said: “There are only 4,000 authorised or registered homestays. While we don’t have an exact figure of unauthorised homestay, tourists must avoid going to such places.”

Meanwhile, Monthi Ganesh, president, Kodagu Homestay Owners’ Association, said: “At least 2,000 homestays in Kodagu are unauthorised, which means they operate without licence.” She said that people from other States take property on lease and start homestay businesses without following guidelines and procuring licence.