Madikeri, April 27: Homestay owners in Kodagu have urged the state government to take immediate action against over 2,000 illegal homestays operating in the district.
The demand comes in the wake of the sexual assault of an American tourist at a registered homestay in Kutta, raising serious concerns about the safety of tourists.
Speaking to media persons on Sunday, members of the Kodagu District Homestay Association urged the state government to fill the vacant post of Deputy Director in the Tourism Department.
Many tourism operators are left without guidance due to lack of proper governance. This has led to illegal activities in the sector, said association president Monti Ganesh.
The district is a major tourist hub with thousands of homestays and several resorts. However, the post of Deputy Director has been lying vacant for several months, Ganesh said. He stressed that strict enforcement against illegal homestays, including police action, is essential to ensure the safety of visitors.
While 2,470 homestays are officially registered, over 2,000 are operating without permission, revealed association member K.M. Karumbaiah.
Brokers located near bus stands and other public places are misleading tourists. Condemning the recent attack on Devi Villa Homestay in Kutta, Ganesh said the facility is registered with the Tourism Department. He argued that since the case is still under investigation, the Deputy Commissioner could have suspended the licence instead of cancelling it.
Kodagu SP K. Bindu Mani held a meeting with owners of hotels, resorts, homestays and travel agencies to strengthen safety protocols for tourists. The SP advised the owners to abide by the law and warned that they would be held accountable for any illegal or criminal activity on their premises.