TBM Staff - Mumbai
According to Zieaat Times, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has introduced draft Tourist Trade Rules, detailing registration and renewal fees for hotels, homestays, houseboats, and other hospitality businesses. The renewal fee for a five-star deluxe hotel is set at INR 2 lakh for two years. Other fees include INR 1.5 lakh for five-star hotels and INR 30,000 for one-star hotels.
Guesthouses, camp hotels, restaurants, and dhabas have lower fees, with guesthouses and camp hotels priced at INR 20,000 for two years. Houseboat fees vary by category, ranging from INR 50,000 for deluxe houseboats to between INR 40,000 and INR 10,000 for others.
Fees for homestays and travel agents are also specified. However, houseboat owners have raised concerns about the increased costs. Yaqoob Dhanoo, former General Secretary of the Kashmir Houseboat Owners Association, described the fee hike as “unbearable” due to limited work and high maintenance costs.
