The Uttar Pradesh government is betting on a sweeping new policy to reshape the way visitors experience the state's cultural and religious heartlands. The state tourism department has introduced a comprehensive Bread & Breakfast (B&B) cum Homestay Policy 2025, replacing its earlier Paying Guest network, with the aim to help homeowners earn up to Rs 3,000 per night by way of providing accommodation and breakfast facilities at their homes to tourists.
The structure has been tiered to accommodate both urban and rural homestays. Silver category units will have a maximum tariff of Rs 2,000 for urban areas and Rs 500 for rural locations, while the category rates for gold units have been fixed at Rs 3,000 and Rs 750, respectively. Also, these units won’t be casual spare-room rentals. They will be regulated and vetted.
The move comes in the wake of sudden rise in footfall from pilgrims, tourists, and cultural enthusiasts to cities like Prayagraj and Ayodhya, which saw limited visitors till a few years back. Apparently, the UP government has plans for 800 new registered homestay-cum-B&B units in Prayagraj alone, according to a report in Times of India.
Criteria To List Your Homes On B&B Units
New B&B units will be required to have a caretaker on site, three CCTV cameras with a minimum 90-day recording archive, and fire safety equipment certified by the fire department.
Only once these boxes are ticked can homeowners submit applications through the designated tourism portal where a five-member district-level committee, headed by the District Magistrate, will scrutinise each case. Applications that meet the policy’s conditions will then be cleared by the directorate.
Existing paying guest accommodations, many of which have been functioning informally till now have been handed a one-year timeline to meet the new guidelines or face disqualification.
In rural areas, the scheme aims to offer visitors an authentic slice of rural life. Hosts under the Rural Homestay Scheme will be expected to provide meals, essential utilities like clean bathrooms and electricity, and a genuine experience of rural Indian living. The task is more comprehensive: accommodation, meals, and an immersive cultural experience as part of the package.
Urban hosts under the B&B banner will need to ensure they provide breakfast as part of the stay.
