Jammu, Feb 10: Jammu & Kashmir Government and world’s leading travel tech platform, OYO Group Thursday launched rural home stay under project “Crown of Incredible India” in a special event presided by Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha at Raj Bhawan.

The Lt Governor announced Rs. 50,000 special financial assistance to youth willing to establish a home stay unit.

The Lt Governor said that J&K UT has emerged as a leader in the tourism sector over the last two and a half years.

With a market giant like OYO coming onboard, we are making in-roads to encourage micro-entrepreneurs in the villages and revitalizing local art & crafts and redevelopment of rural areas, added the Lt Governor.

The venture will help in building a tourist infrastructure of world standards in rural J&K. By December this year, around 200 home stays will be available on OYO platform, he added.

We are making efforts in a systematic manner to connect the youth and self-help groups on a large scale in the tourist village network and give them an opportunity to be a part of the transformation of rural J&K, said the Lt Governor.

The UT Government under Mission Youth will support 500 youth for establishing home stay, he added.

Mohammad Yousuf Gorsi, Chairman, DDC Anantnag thanked the UT Government for the endeavour to support the rural homeowners and augment their livelihood.

Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary, while speaking on the occasion, said the rural home stay under project “Crown of Incredible India” will create new entrepreneurs, provide gainful employment to the rural youth and strengthen the rural economy.

Ritesh Agarwal, Founder & Group CEO, OYO, said that the OYO group is proud to extend its partnership with the Jammu & Kashmir Government to generate economic and employment opportunities in rural areas.

We are committed to strengthening tourism for the benefit of local communities and aim to work together with these micro-entrepreneurs to promote sustainable and responsible travel and home-stays that contribute to resilient local economies and support jobs, he added.