The Future of Agritourism WIth Punjab's Farm Tourism Scheme Application Process, Benefits, & More

Tourism is a major part of any economy and helps it grow fast. India's tourism sector is expanding rapidly. The country's travel and tourism sector contributed 9.1% to its GDP in 2024, an increase of 12.1% from the previous year. Punjab is aiming to promote the tourism and agriculture sectors with the help of the Farm Stay in Punjab. Let’s understand this state government scheme in detail.

Overview

The below table showcases the key highlights of Punjab’s Farm Tourism Scheme:-

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What Is Punjab’s Farm Tourism Scheme?

The Punjab Farm Tourism Scheme was introduced by the Department of Tourism & Cultural Affairs, Government of Punjab. The government scheme aims to offer tourists a clean, comfortable, and hygienic stay in farmhouses in Punjab and also aims to give both domestic and foreign tourists a chance to experience village life and enjoy Punjab's rich culture. Additionally, this govt scheme will provide farmers with extra income and a better livelihood.

The Farm Stay in Punjab combines farm tourism, adventure tourism, rural and village tourism, and cultural tourism, making it a complete experience for tourists. The Department of Tourism (DoT) and the Punjab Heritage Tourism Promotion Board (PHTPB) will register farm stay units and set guidelines for them.

A Farm Stay in Punjab unit is a property that has at least 2.5 acres of land. It should have proper accommodation for guests that meets the standards of the government scheme. The construction of these accommodations must follow the rules set by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Government of Punjab.

Benefits

The government scheme provides marketing support for registered farm stay units, helping to attract domestic and foreign tourists, thereby increasing revenue for farm owners. Let’s take a look at the benefits offered by the farm stay in Punjab to tourism and agriculture.

• Provides extra income for farm owners with registered Farm Stay units.

• Registered Farm Stay in Punjab units can use the Punjab Tourism Logo on their signboards.

• The Department of Tourism and the Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board will help market these Farm Stay units.

• Promotion will be done on the official Punjab Tourism website.

• Travel writers will cover these Farm Stay units in the media.

• The Department of Tourism will promote Farm Stay units through brochures, leaflets, and other printed materials.

• Promotion will also happen at domestic and international trade fairs. Registered farm stay owners will get free space for promotion at these fairs.

• Certificates will be issued by the Chief Executive Officer of PHTPB.

• The Certificate is valid for a lifetime.

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Eligibility Criteria

Farm owners in Punjab with eligible properties that meet the scheme’s guidelines can register for this scheme. The following eligibility criteria have to be met to apply for the Silver and Gold categories.

Eligibility Criteria For The Gold Category

• The Farm Stay unit should have more than 5 acres of land.

• It can have up to 9 rooms (18 beds) built according to the scheme's standards.

• There should be a facility for providing cooked meals to tourists.

• There should be a hygienic storage facility for food.

• The facility can be managed by a manager.

Eligibility Criteria For The Silver Category

• The Farm Stay unit can have up to 5 acres of land.

• It can have up to 9 rooms (18 beds) built according to the scheme's standards.

• There should be a facility for providing cooked meals to tourists.

• There should be a hygienic storage facility for food.

• The facility must be managed by the owner.

• The unit can be run in any existing house in a village.

Other General Conditions

• The owner can decide the rates for stay, food, and other activities.

• The unit must be furnished and decorated to a high standard for both international and domestic tourists.

• Each bedroom must have a clean attached bathroom with 24-hour hot and cold water, a Western-style toilet, and adequate power, ventilation, and lighting.

• The building must be structurally safe, clean, and hygienic.

• Tourists should be allowed to explore the fields during their stay.

Compliance By Registered Farm Stay In Punjab

• The unit must always maintain the standards set in the farm stay in Punjab prescribed in Annexure II.

• The Chief Executive Officer, PHTPB, or an authorized officer can inspect the unit at any time between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm without notice.

• Any changes in the facilities must be reported to the Chief Executive Officer within 30 days.

• The owner must assist visitors with transport and medical help in case of an emergency.

• If guests suffer any loss due to the negligence of the owner or staff, they will be compensated by the farm owner.

• The owner must follow all rules and regulations of other government departments or agencies.

Application Process

Owners interested in joining the scheme can apply by following the process set by PHTPB. Farm stays in Punjab that meet the eligibility criteria can follow these steps to apply for the Farm Stay Tourism Scheme.

Step 1: Visit the official Department of Tourism portal.

Step 2: Go to the home page, and click on "Farm Stay Scheme" under "Register Your Units With Punjab Tourism."

Step 3: If not registered, click on "Register Yourself" and fill in all the required details.

Step 4: After registering, click on "Apply for Service" and choose "Online."

Step 5: Log in using the Login ID and password.

Step 6: Fill out the application form with the necessary details.

Step 7: Attach the required documents.

Step 8: Pay the application fee online to the Punjab Heritage & Tourism Promotion Board and upload proof of payment on the website.

Step 9: The application fee is ₹5,000 for the Gold Category and ₹3,000 for the Silver Category, both of which are non-refundable.

What Is The Property Registration Process?

Eligible farm owners must apply for property registration as per the scheme’s prescribed guidelines. PHTPB will then review and register qualified properties. After submitting the application form, the following steps can be followed to register the farm stay property.

Step 1: After submitting the complete application and fee online, a system-generated email as an acknowledgement will be sent.

Step 2: The CEO of PHTPB will approve the application, and a certificate of registration will be issued online within 7 working days.

Step 3: If the certificate is not issued within 7 working days, the property will be considered registered in the applied category.

Step 4: Registered farm stay owners must submit a quarterly report on the number of guests served using the prescribed form Annexure V through the online system.

Step 5: Every 3 years, owners must file a self-declaration about the facilities provided using the form in Annexure VI.

Why Would The Registration Be Cancelled?

1. Violation of the government scheme terms and conditions may result in the cancellation of registration after a hearing.

2. If false information is provided during the application, the registration will be cancelled without notice, and the applicant will be banned from registering any property in the future.

3. Failure to submit quarterly reports more than once may lead to cancellation.

4. Any illegal activities on the registered farm stay property will result in immediate cancellation and potential legal action.

5. If the CEO points out any deficiencies, they must be corrected within the given time. Failure to do so may lead to cancellation.

6. Customer complaints will be investigated, and if found valid, the registration may be cancelled.

7. The Farm Stay Certificate will be automatically cancelled if the property's ownership changes. The owner must inform the CEO, PHTPB, of any ownership changes.

Documents Required

Applicants should provide identification proof, property ownership papers, and any documents related to the property’s amenities and facilities for registration. The following documents have to be submitted to apply for the Farm Stay Tourism Scheme.

• Checklist of facilities duly filled (Annexure-II).

• Signed Declaration (Annexure - III).

• Additional relevant background information, if any (Annexure - IV).

• Coloured photographs of the property and the rooms proposed to be let out.

• An affidavit that due assistance of medical help and transportation facility shall be provided to the visitor/tourist in case of any health emergency.

• The approved layout of the farmhouse duly specifying the rooms to be offered to the guests/tourists

• Copy of ownership documents of the property duly attested by a Group - A officer or a Public Notary.

• Identity proof of the owner.

• Proof of Ownership (NOC) self-attested.

• Proof of having paid the necessary fee.

Role of The Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board

The Department of Tourism of Punjab has authorised the Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board to oversee, implement and supervise the Farm Tourism Scheme. , although PHTPB gives a lot of marketing help, it is up to the owners of each farm stay unit to make the business thrive.

Key responsibilities of PHTPB include:

• Registration: Classification of units qualifying for registration under the terms of the scheme.

• Quality Monitoring: On-site cheque-ups on an unannounced basis to monitor the standard of registered farm stays.

• Directory of Units: Furnishing the above listed and other useful information to the ministry to compile a directory of registered farm stays and to post the list on the official tourism website to make it easier for domestic and international tourists to access.

Conclusion

With the rapid growth of tourism, the Farm Stay Tourism Scheme will help Punjab’s tourism sector and will also immensely help promote the Agriculture sector. Along with helping the sectors, this will help the economy of the state and also help generate employment for the people.

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