Stop Paying OTA Commission. Get Software Built for Sikkim Homestays.

Running a homestay in Sikkim now means registering under the Sikkim Registration of Tourist Trade Act, 2024, administered by the Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation. Registration requires that the host be a permanent resident living on the premises, that the property meets prescribed safety and hygiene standards, and that the certificate is renewed every year through your District Tourism Office. Category fees start at roughly Rs 28,000. Staying compliant means keeping clean guest records and identity details for every booking, so software that logs each guest, stores documents, and generates occupancy reports makes annual renewal and inspection paperwork far less painful for a small owner-run property.

Sikkim drew record tourist arrivals in recent years, and demand for owners clusters around the March-to-June clear-view months and the autumn Durga Puja rush from West Bengal. Many Gangtok and Pelling hosts still depend on tour operators and OTAs who bundle rooms into packages and take 15-25% off the top. For North Sikkim properties in Lachung and Yumthang, guests need Protected Area Permits arranged in advance, so owners who confirm and collect directly avoid last-minute package cancellations. Owning your guest list and a direct-booking page lets you fill the monsoon lull with repeat travellers instead of paying commission on every arrival.