Forty Stopovers across Maharashtra

... the tourism department introduces a bed and breakfast scheme for visitors to the state

It's arrived at last -- an end to expensive stays at five star hotels. And finally some comfortable lodging options for the low budget traveller. Finally... just when we thought even holidays were beyond the reach of the limited budget tourists, the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation has launched a bed and breakfast scheme. Much in the manner that the British tourism office does it in the UK.

Naturally they have deshi-fied the terminology -- the scheme is called Nivas aur Nyahari. It was introduced in October 1996. However some months later the plan is still in the beginning stages. MTDC has selected 40 destinations around the state where they will implement the bed and breakfast scheme. MTDC is in the process of drawing up a database of the rooms available. Property owners in Maharashtra who have a house vacant or a room in a flat or house vacant that can accommodate extra persons have been asked to apply .

"The bed and breakfast scheme was already in existence in some states," says Prithviraj Patil, head of MTDC's public relations. "It is being run by the government tourist department. Recently there has been an increase in tourism and hence the need for accommodating these tourists arose. So the government Tourism Development Corporation suggested we start this scheme."

Bed and breakfast schemes already exist in the states of Rajasthan and Goa. While the scheme is organised and run by the state tourist departments, the final approval has to be given by the state governments. Besides being an excellent alternative to tourists who want to travel around Maharashtra with a limited amount of money in hand, the scheme is also a good way for the locals to earn additional income. It also generates additional employment, and simultaneously opens up the interior to the public.

But while MTDC has taken the initiative to start the scheme they say they are trying to keep their role to a minimum. "We are not here for competition. Our mandate is development of tourism around the state. We intend to keep our level of involvement down to a minimum. Therefore, if healthy competition arises it is fine with us as long as it is within limits and is part of the purpose of starting a bed and breakfast scheme," says Patil.

However, being the centre of registration and the administrating authority for the scheme, there are several risks that MTDC has to take precautions against. MTDC has a stringent set of conditions for applicants with vacant accommodation who wish to be admitted to this scheme.

Naturally, the first requirement is that the applicant should own a house or bungalow or wadi of reasonable size. Hygiene is one of the main priorities of a bed and breakfast club candidate. For the safety of the tourist, spare rooms in flats and houses of a single householder will not qualify. As important is the fact that the home should be within close proximity of town centres, so it is convenient for the tourist. Basic facilities like telephones, fax etc should be provided or be made accessible.

MTDC has also stated that they will visit the site at any time on inspection. If at any time the home does not satisfy the conditions laid down by MTDC, the address stands a chance of being struck off the bed and breakfast data base.

Private homes that posses the right criteria to become part of the MTDC's Nivas aur Nyaharai scheme will have to pay a registration fee of a Rs 1,000. But if after inspection, they do not qualify , 80 per cent of the fee will be refunded. A fee of Rs 5,000 will have to be paid the MTDC for a license, if a property does qualify after inpectection. This will be renewed for a sum of Rs 500 every year.

"Some of the people who have applied are finding the fees too high.", explains Patil. "But there are a lot of costs that have to be incurred by MTDC. It doesn't only involve our own administrative cost but in order to make it a success we have to involve the municipal corporation, the district collectorate and others. However, because we have had complaints we are trying to get the government to reduce the rate for the license. We are only the catalysts and we make no profit from it."

However once an establishment qualifies for a bed and breakfast license, the rate charged per night will be left up to the landlords and they will be allowed to charge what they wish. But a necessary condition is that tariff would have to be slightly lower than the nearest decent hotel. Landlords have the freedom to vary their rates so long as they remain attractive to tourists.

Landlords can drop out of an MTDC scheme as and when they wish and run their own bed and breakfast places privately. But registering with MTDC has its advantages. For one, it is easier to obtain a license. Secondly, if they come under the bed and breakfast scheme they are not liable to pay commercial tax. And those who need to renovate or make additions to their houses, have MTDC's recommendation which makes it easier to obtain a loan under the state government's Rozgar Yojna scheme. Bed and breakfast establishments registered with MTDC, stand a better chance of doing brisk business as they have MTDC's seal of approval and MTDC will advertise on their behalf. However a Nivas aur Nyahari establishment is liable to pay up to 10 per cent of their earnings to MTDC, for every tourist recommended to them by MTDC

Forty locations that have been chosen for this project. They include Ganpatipule, Fardapur, Pandharpur, Naigaon, Tuljapur, Malvan, Grishneshwar, Panhala, Pali, Kelve, Velneshwar, Aurangabad, Mahabaleshwar, Norsobachi Wadi, Murud-Janjira, Anjarle, Amboli, Bhimashankar, Jaysingpur, Sindhudurg, Alibag, Mahabaleshwar, Paithan, Lonavala, Chikaldara, Solapur, Devrukh, Lonar, Panchgani, Nagpur, Mangalvedha, Kulkeshwar, Nanded, Kolhapur, Ramtek, Akalkot, Vijaydurg, Parli-Vaijnath, Sangli, Sevagram and Matheran. Each of the places have been chosen by MTDC because they are either beach resorts, religious spots, hill stations, sanctuaries, or of historical interest. Click here for details and a description of these destinations.

Says Pascal D'Mello, manager of Tourist Cell Services, "these are just trial places. If the scheme is successful then it will be implemented in other locations as well."

According to him each location is has been carefully selected and inspected. Each of them has chosen with interests of the tourist in mind. Either they have religious relevance, or they are undiscovered beach resorts. Or they may just be places of scenic beauty.

While the applications are still pouring in, Nivas Aur Nyahari is gradually taking off. "We have had a hundred applicants so far, and that's a very good sign. It means that people are ready for such a scheme, "says Patil.

But while MTDC finds it easy to sell a project in Lonavala, Panchgani, Mahabaleshwar, which are already high tourism areas, they have not been so successful in areas like Devrukh that are relatively unknown. According to MTDC officials, locals of these areas are not used to tourists and are unable to comprehend the benefits of enrolling themselves in a bed and breakfast data base. "We are trying to get the municipal officers and the collectorate office staff to speak to the locals and explain the concept to them," explains Patil. "Because these places have the potential to become tourist areas they have to be pushed. We plan to offer the locals certain incentives so they will welcome the scheme."

In order to publicise the Nivas Aur Nyahari project, MTDC plans to publish a catalogue listing the locations and the type of accommodation available at these places. These will be regularly updated and will be available at the MTDC offices. "We will also be circulating them among the tour and travel agencies abroad," says Patil.

A scheme like Nivas aur Nyahari is much needed in Maharashtra especially with the increased influx of tourists in the city and surrounding areas over the past two years. Maharashtra now joins the ranks of Goa and Rajasthan, and becomes the third state in India to opt for a bed and breakfast scheme. This concept has not yet come of age in other parts of India. MTDC is hopeful that the Nivas aur Nyahari scheme will be as successful as the schemes run by tourism offices of Goa and Rajasthan. It cannot be denied that bed and breakfast projects has proved indispensable to the growth of tourism in Goa and Rajasthan.

For more details contact any of the MTDC offices at:

• Bombay

  Maharashtra Tourist Development Corporation (MTDC) office, C D O Hutments, located opposite the LIC headquarters, Madame Cama Road, Nariman Point, tel # 022-2026713, 2027762. Open every day from 0830 hours to 1730 hours except Sunday.
  There are MTDC information and booking counters at both the international airport, tel # 022-6366700 and the national airport, tel # 022-6114788 and booths near the Gateway of India, tel # 022-2841877 and at Victoria Terminus, tel # 022-2622859.

• Aurangabad

  MTDC, Station road, Aurangabad, tel # 0240-331513, fax # 0240-331198.

• Pune

  MTDC, I Block, Central building, Pune, tel # 0212-62666867, fax # 0212-628169

• Nagpur

  MTDC, Sanskrut Bhavan, tel and fax # 0712-533325.

• Nashik

  MTDC, T/1, Golf Club, Old Agra road, tel and fax # 0253-570059.

• Amravati

  B & C Rest House, Maltekdi Road, tel and fax # 00721-6774008

• Kolhapur

  Kedar Complex, Shop # 1, Station road, tel # 0231-652935, fax # 0231-659435

• Ratnagiri

  Near Jaistambha, tel and fax # 02352-23847.

• Sindhudurg

  New Administrative Building, C Block, First floor, Sindhudurga Nagari.

• New Delhi

  Maharashtra Information Centre, 1/8 State Emporia building, Baba Kharak Marg, tel # 011-343773.

Click here for a description of each of the forty locations being promoted by MTDC for this scheme