Prahlad Singh Patel, the Union minister of state (independent charge) for tourism and culture, on Tuesday said homestay owners could directly approach the Centre for affiliation of their properties.

Patel attended a number of programmes organised by the BJP at Malbazar in Jalpaiguri district, Alipurduar and Cooch Behar on Tuesday.

“Tourists are preferring homestays nowadays. We can help them with affiliation and provide them with training and financial benefits. The state government does not have any role in the process and these people can directly approach us. I have talked to our local MPs and soon, we will send experts here for impart training to homestay owners,” the minister said.

Patil told newspersons that he would flag the issue of SDF (sustainable development fee) that the neighbouring country of Bhutan had planned to charge from Indian tourists.

According to the plan, an Indian tourist visiting Bhutan will have to pay Rs 1,200 per day as the SDF. Such an additional charge would lead to a drop in the number of Indian tourists to Bhutan, which would eventually affect the tourism industry in north Bengal and Sikkim also.

Hundreds of homestays have mushroomed in north Bengal, both in the plains and the hills, in the past few years. Most of the owners are first-generation entrepreneurs who could promote new tourist destinations.

The state government has already floated a scheme under which homestay owners are entitled to receive a one-time financial assistance of Rs 1.5 lakh each for development of their properties.