The Sikkim government will get a survey done to prepare a comprehensive database of homestay accommodations spread across the mountain state.

The state tourism and civil aviation department, sources said, has engaged a private firm to conduct the survey which will continue till February next year.

“The survey will be conducted to assess the current state of homestay services and also to identify opportunities for improvement and promoting better tourism experiences and economic growth,” said an official of the department.

Much like the Darjeeling and Kalimpong hills, homestays have mushroomed across the Himalayan state of Sikkim. As of now, there are around 1,600 such accommodations. However, only around 1,000 of those are registered with the department.

Sources said from this month, authorised teams will visit every homestay to gather basic details of each facility, including the location, type of accommodation, number of rooms, services provided to boarders (tourists), the cuisine offered to them, the status of the kitchen and otherallied infrastructure.

“We need to prepare this inventory of homestays to formulate a policy on these homestays and for improvement of services. Also, those who are not yet registered with the department would be asked to register themselves,” the official added.

Unlike Bengal, which has already drafted a policy on homestays, Sikkim has yet to come up with a policy forsuch accommodations.

Those associated with the tourism industry of the state have welcomed the initiative.

Lukendra Rasaily, adviser to the Travel Agents Association of Sikkim (TAAS), said it would help to monitorthe homestays.

“The state and even most of the stakeholders do not have full-fledged data on all homestays. Such data is necessary to monitor the accommodations and help promote homestays which eventually will benefit those who make a living from such accommodations,” Rasaily said.

“The data will also help the state government to have a clear understanding of the locations in which these homestays run,”Rasaily added.

Bengal recce

The Bengal tourism department has initiated a survey in the Darjeeling and Kalimpong hills in association with the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) to find out if the homestay owners run the accommodations on their own or have leased them out.

“There are reports that owners lease out homestays to people who are not locals. This is unacceptable as the state government gives financial aid to homestay owners to improve their infrastructure so that they can earn a living. They cannot lease out properties after getting this aid,” said a department source.

Darjeeling hills and Kalimpong have around 250 and 1,000 homestays, respectively, sources said.