Chennai: The Union Tourism Ministry has formulated a new action plan to implement the Bed & Breakfast scheme, which did not register much success in the state when it was launched in 2009.
There have been protests from the hospitality sector, but the scheme with taxes rationalised is likely to be reintroduced in a big way. The action plan will ensure the expansion of the Home Stay scheme and promote the Incredible India Bed & Breakfast scheme on a fast-track mode.
According to sources, online travel agents (OTAs) will also be involved in the process - a new feature of marketing. Though the Centre's decision to revisit the scheme and reintroduce it may help the budget conscious travellers, it might not gel with the hospitality sector in Tamil Nadu, say sources in the industry.
More than making up for the shortage of rooms, it could result in legal tangles as experienced in the past, it was pointed out. Nevertheless, the plan will move towards ease of doing business through rationalisation of taxes, simplification of procedures, etc. and will see the launch of an aggressive marketing strategy to enlist more B&B establishments across the country including TN, claim sources in the ministry, which decided to revise the scheme guidelines and update it based on present and future requirements.
The issues of uniform tariff and facilities provided in the apartments or individual houses, providing quality breakfast, security of guests besides apprehensions of "unregulated growth of apartments" that may eat into the revenues of the hotels were among the major concerns which came to the fore about seven years ago when the scheme was introduced in the state. Gradually, the scheme faded from public mind.
Government now insists that the scheme could provide an actual experience of a home stay in the country for the international visitors and hence requires support.
