Sukhu orders online portal for homestay registration in 10 days

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday directed officials to develop an online portal for the registration of homestay units within 10 days, marking a significant step toward digital governance in the state’s tourism sector.

Presiding over a high-level meeting to review ongoing tourism projects, the Chief Minister instructed departments to float tenders for hiring competent software firms to design user-friendly portals across all departments. Sukhu emphasised that all payments related to Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) hotels, General Administration Department (GAD) guesthouses and departmental rest houses, including food bills, should be made entirely online.

He also directed the empanelment of professional architects for preparing project designs under the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Tourism Development Board initiatives, with advertisements to be issued within 10 days. “Our aim is to remove administrative hurdles and simplify procedures to promote ease of doing business in tourism,” Sukhu asserted.

The Chief Minister also reviewed the draft rules of the proposed Tourism Investment Promotion Council (TIPC), suggesting certain modifications and inclusion of hotels currently under construction. He urged that the operation and maintenance (O&M) of loss-making HPTDC units be expedited to improve efficiency and enhance tourist facilities.

Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta, Principal Secretary Devesh Kumar, Director Tourism Vivek Bhatia and other senior officials were present in the meeting.