The state government on Monday introduced a set of stricter rules governing homestays and bed and breakfasts. Officials said the new rules were prompted by recent cases of criminal behavior at such establishments.
The government cited two separate cases – one in Koppal district in March 2025 and the recent rape of an American tourist in Kodagu – as reasons to strengthen surveillance systems.
According to the circular, under the new rules, all accommodations must obtain registration from the state tourism department. “An establishment/homes operating as homestay/bed and breakfast without valid registration and approval will be deemed illegal and legal action will be taken,” the circular said, adding that licenses and registration certificates must be prominently displayed at the entrances.
The rules also include additional checks on hiring and monitoring.
“All staff working in accommodation units must be background checked at the local police station,” and records must be available for inspection. CCTV cameras are now mandatory in reception areas, with footage stored for at least 30 days.
The authorities will also integrate registered properties into the police department’s e-beat system. According to the order, officers are expected to “physically visit these properties, check guest records and officially record their visits using GPS…creating an immutable, time-stamped audit trail.”
Operators must keep detailed records of guests, including identity documents for local visitors and passport details for foreign nationals, sharing information with police when needed. Emergency preparedness measures include displaying helpline numbers such as 112, with the circular noting that calls from registered accommodations “may be algorithmically classified as priority tourist emergencies, resulting in rapid dispatch from the nearest response vehicle.”
The government has also directed that employees undergo gender sensitization training and legal provisions, including those under the POSH and POCSO Acts. “In the event of a crisis involving female tourists, Sakhi One-Stop Centers can provide immediate legal, medical and psychological support,” she added.
District administrations were instructed to intensify monitoring. Deputy Commissioners will lead joint inspection teams with police and tourism officials to conduct random checks and identify unregistered properties, along with annual awareness meetings with operators. Compliance reports must be submitted by May 15, 2026.
The measures come in the wake of increased interest in the homestay sector in Kodagu following a sexual assault case involving a foreign tourist earlier this month. Industry representatives said regulatory loopholes had allowed unauthorized operators to spread, noting that while 2,470 homes were registered in the area, more than 2,000 were operating without approval.
“The area is a major tourism hub, with thousands of accommodations and several resorts. However, the post of deputy director has remained vacant for several months, hampering proper organisation,” association president Monty Ganesh said. She called for stronger enforcement, including police action, and highlighted concerns about brokers directing tourists to unlicensed accommodation.
In the Kodagu case, the homeowner was arrested on April 22 on charges of withholding information and protecting an employee charged under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provisions. Both persons have been remanded in judicial custody till May 3. The police said that the worker had been working at the property for several years, and the survivor – who had previously visited the house – recorded her statements before the judge.
During the bail proceedings, a court initially ordered the inclusion of the survivor in the case but later overturned the decision, stating that this requirement only applies in specific cases involving minors under the Bharatiya Nyaya Suraksha Sanhita Act.
