NIDHI+

Quality Certification:               

Registered Entities will be able to avail relevant services like Star Classification, Approvals, Recognitions, and other services that will be made available from time to time. The Ministry has made efforts to streamline the Star Classification System and other approvals/recognitions so as to reduce time taken and the processes are now end-to-end digitalized and usage of mobile applications for geotagged data collection. Certificates will be provided for entities that achieve relevant certifications/approvals etc.

Types:

1. Classification
1. Star Classification

Star classification is a rating system that is used to rank units according to their quality and services. The star classification of units is used to help travellers choose the best units for their needs. By understanding the different ratings and what they mean, travellers can make an informed decision when choosing a units.

Who can apply?

Accommodation-

A entity that provides room or group of rooms designed to provide accommodation to a guest.

★    Hotel: An accommodation unit providing at least a reception, and accommodation and may also provide food and beverage facilities and other ancillary services.

●     Eligibility Criteria:

1.    Minimum no. of lettable room will be 10

2.    PAN, GST & Aadhaar number of owner

●     Type of Certification:

1 Star, 2 Star, 3 Star, 4 Star, 5 Star, 5 Star Deluxe

●     Click here for Guidelines

●     Click here to apply for Classification

★    Resort: An accommodation Unit that is located at tourist destinations (such as hill stations, sea beaches, countryside, remote areas of cities and other locations) and combines stay facilities with leisure activities.

●     Eligibility Criteria:

1.    Minimum no. of lettable room will be 10

2.    PAN, GST & Aadhaar number of owner

●     Type of Certification:

1 Star, 2 Star, 3 Star, 4 Star, 5 Star, 5 Star Deluxe

●     Click here for Guidelines

●     Click here to apply

★    Timeshare Resort: An Accommodation Unit in which multiple parties hold rights to use the rooms, and each member is allotted a period of time.

●     Eligibility Criteria:

1.    Minimum no. of lettable room will be 10

2.    PAN, GST & Aadhaar number of owner

●     Type of Certification:

3 Star, 4 Star, 5 Star, Heritage

●     Click here for Guidelines

●     Click here to apply

★    Apartment Hotel: A hotel where accommodation is provided in rooms with additional space & facilities, like studios or apartments.

●     Eligibility Criteria:

1.    Minimum no. of lettable room will be 10

2.    PAN, GST & Aadhaar number of owner

●     Type of Certification:

3 Star, 4 Star, 5 Star, 5 Star Deluxe

●     Click here for Guidelines

●     Click here to apply

★    Bed & Breakfast: An accommodation unit where tourist accommodation and breakfast are provided.

●     Eligibility Criteria:

1.    Minimum no. of lettable room will be 1

2.    PAN, GST & Aadhaar number of owner

●     Type of Certification:
Gold, Silver

●     Click here for Guidelines

●     Click here to apply

★    Homestay: An Accommodation Unit where room for rent in a resident-occupied house or flat is provided with meals.

●     Eligibility Criteria:

1.    Minimum no. of lettable room will be 1

2.    PAN, GST & Aadhaar number of owner

●     Type of Certification:

Gold, Silver

●     Click here for Guidelines

●     Click here to apply

★    Tented Accommodation: An accommodation unit where rooms are made of fabric for ease of transport. These may be at any location including camping sites.

●     Eligibility Criteria:

1.    Minimum no. of lettable room will be 6

2.    PAN, GST & Aadhaar number of owner

●     Type of Certification:

Standard, Deluxe

●     Click here for Guidelines

●     Click here to apply

★    Heritage: Hotels running in palaces/castles/forts / havelies / hunting loges/residence of any size built prior to 1950. The facade, architectural features and general construction should have distinctive qualities and ambience in keeping with the traditional way of life of the area. After expansion/renovation, if any, the newly built-up area added should not exceed 50% of the total built-up (plinth) area including the old and new structures.

●     Eligibility Criteria:

1.    Minimum no. of lettable room will be 5

2.    PAN, GST & Aadhaar number of owner

●     Type of Certification:

Heritage Basic, Heritage Classic without Alcohol, Heritage Classic with Alcohol, Heritage Grand

●     Click here for Guidelines

●     Click here to apply

★    Legacy Vintage: A hotel constructed/built with material from heritage properties/buildings (i.e. properties or buildings which were built/ constructed/erected prior to the year 1950), provided that at least 50% of the material used to construct/build the hotel is sourced from heritage properties or buildings.

●     Eligibility Criteria:

1.    Minimum no. of lettable room will be 5

2.    PAN, GST & Aadhaar number of owner

●     Type of Certification:

Legacy Vintage Grand, Legacy Vintage Classic with Alcohol, Legacy Vintage Classic without Alcohol, Legacy Vintage Basic

●     Click here for Guidelines

●     Click here to apply

2. Approval- It is a system in which no certification is given other than approval.

Who can apply?

★    Accommodation-

1.    Guest House: An Accommodation Unit where tourist accommodation and meals are provided.

●     Eligibility Criteria:

1.    Minimum no. of lettable room will be 6

2.    PAN, GST & Aadhaar number of owner

●     Type of Certification:

Guest House Approval

●     Click here for Guidelines

●     Click here to apply

2.    Motel: An Accommodation Unit located on a major road or highway, with nearby parking facilities, and is specifically designed largely for tourists travelling by road.

●     Eligibility Criteria:

1.    Minimum no. of lettable room will be 10

2.    PAN, GST & Aadhaar number of owner

●     Type of Certification:

Approval

●     Click here for Guidelines

●     Click here to apply

★    Food Business Operator

An entity carrying out any of the activities related to any stage of manufacture, processing, packaging, storage, transportation, distribution of food, imports and including food services, sale of food, or food ingredients.

1.    Standalone Restaurant: A Unit involved in preparation & service of food & beverages on premises to customers or for take away/home delivery

●     Eligibility Criteria:

1.    PAN, GST & Aadhaar number of owner

●     Type of Certification

Approval

●     Click here for Guidelines

●     Click here to apply

2.    Standalone Air Catering Unit: A Unit involved in the preparation and delivery of packaged food & beverages to an airport for consumption aboard an aircraft while in flight.

●     Eligibility Criteria:

1.    PAN, GST & Aadhaar number of owner

●     Click here for Guidelines

●     Click here to apply

★    Online Travel Aggregator

An intermediary/agent selling travel products and services such as the airlines, car rental, cruise lines, Hotels / Accommodation, railways, vacation packages etc. on behalf of suppliers using internet as a medium.

●     Eligibility Criteria:

1.    PAN, GST & Aadhaar number of owner

●     Type of Certification

Approval

●     Click here for Guidelines

●     Click here to apply

2. Recognition:

It is a system in which the Ministry of Tourism has been giving the recognition to tourism service providers under various categories under its voluntary guidelines with an objective to encourage quality and standard of services.

Tourism Service Provider

Tourism service providers are companies or individuals that offer services to tourists, such as accommodation (hotels, motels, resorts etc), transportation (airlines, rental car companies, cruise lines), food and beverage (restaurants, cafes), tour operators, travel agencies, adventure sports providers etc. The goal of tourism service providers is to meet the needs and expectations of tourists and enhance their travel experience.

a.    Greenshoot: A new organisation (Properitership/ Partnership Firm/Company), which has just ventured into the tourism sector and has no previous experience in the field of tourism.

Who can apply?

★    Tour Operators: A Tour Operator is the one who makes the arrangements for transport, accomodaotion, sightseeing, entertainment and other tourism related services for tourists visiting destinations within country, including through online mode.

●     Eligibility Criteria:

1.    PAN, GST & Aadhaar number of owner

2.    Paid up capital- Rest of India- Rs. 1 Lakh
            NER/J&K/A&N/Lakshwadeep- Rs. 50,000

●     Type of Certification:

Adventure Tour Operator, Domestic Tour Operator, Inbound Tour Operators, MICE

●     Click here for Guidelines

●     Click here to apply

★    Travel Agents:  A Travel agent is one who makes arrangements of tickets for travel for air, rail, ship, passport, visa, etc for the tourist visiting India, including through online mode. It may also arrange accommodation, tours, entertainment & other tourism related services included in the Tour Operator Category.

●     Eligibility Criteria:

1.    PAN, GST & Aadhaar number of owner

2.    Paid up capital- Rest of India- Rs.1 Lakh
            NER/J&K/A&N/Lakshwadeep- Rs. 50,000

●     Type of Certification

Travel Agent

●     Click here for Guidelines

●     Click here to apply

★    Tourist Transport Operator: A Tourist Transport Operator is one, who provides tourist transport like cars, coaches. boats etc. to tourists for transfers, sightseeing, river cruise, boat rides and journeys to tourist places, etc. within the country. including through the online mode

●     Eligibility Criteria:

1.    PAN, GST & Aadhaar number of owner

2.    Paid up capital- Rest of India- Rs.1 Lakh
            NER/J&K/A&N/Lakshwadeep- Rs. 50,000

●     Type of Certification

Tourist Transport Operator

●     Click here for Guidelines

●     Click here to apply

b.    Experienced: An organisation (Properitership/ Partnership Firm/Company), which has experience in the field of tourism.

Who can apply?

★    Tour Operators: A tour operator is the one who makes the arrangements for transport, accomodaotion, sightseeing, entertainment and other tourism related services for tourists visiting destinations within country, including through online mode.

●     Eligibility Criteria:

1.    PAN, GST & Aadhaar number of owner

2.    Paid up capital- Rest of India- Rs.3 Lakh
            NER/J&K/A&N/Lakshwadeep- Rs. 50,000

●     Type of Certification

Adventure Tour Operator, Domestic Tour Operator, Inbound Tour Operators, MICE

●     Click here for Guidelines

●     Click here to apply

★    Travel Agents: A Travel agent is one who makes arrangements of tickets for travel for air, rail, ship, passport, visa, etc for the tourist visiting India, including through online mode. It may also arrange accommodation, tours, entertainment & other tourism related services included in the Tour Operator Category.

●     Eligibility Criteria:

1.    PAN, GST & Aadhaar number of owner

2.    Paid up capital- Rest of India- Rs.3 Lakh
            NER/J&K/A&N/Lakshwadeep- Rs. 50,000

●     Type of Certification

Travel Agent

●     Click here for Guidelines

●     Click here to apply

★    Tourist Transport Officer: A Tourist Transport Operator is one, who provides tourist transport like cars, coaches. boats etc. to tourists for transfers, sightseeing, river cruise, boat rides and journeys to tourist places, etc. within the country. including through the online mode

●     Eligibility Criteria:

1.    PAN, GST & Aadhaar number of owner

2.    Paid up capital- Rest of India- Rs.3 Lakh
            NER/J&K/A&N/Lakshwadeep- Rs. 50,000

●     Type of Certification

Tourist Transport Operator

●     Click here for Guidelines

●     Click here to apply

3. Project Approval: Definition

Who can apply?

Accommodation Units-

A entity that provides room or group of rooms designed to provide accommodation to a guest.

★    Hotel: An accommodation unit providing at least a reception, and accommodation and may also provide food and beverage facilities and other ancillary services.

●     Eligibility Criteria:

1.    Minimum no. of lettable room will be 10

2.    PAN, GST & Aadhaar number of owner

●     Type of Certification:

1 Star, 2 Star, 3 Star, 4 Star, 5 Star, 5 Star Deluxe

●     Click here for Guidelines

●     Click here to apply

★    Resort: An accommodation Unit that is located at tourist destinations (such as hill stations, sea beaches, countryside, remote areas of cities and other locations) and combines stay facilities with leisure activities.

●     Eligibility Criteria:

1.    Minimum no. of lettable room will be 10

2.    PAN, GST & Aadhaar number of owner

●     Type of Certification:

1 Star, 2 Star, 3 Star, 4 Star, 5 Star, 5 Star Deluxe

●     Click here for Guidelines

●     Click here to apply

★    Timeshare Resort: An Accommodation Unit in which multiple parties hold rights to use the rooms, and each member is allotted a period of time.

●     Eligibility Criteria:

1.    Minimum no. of lettable room will be 10

2.    PAN, GST & Aadhaar number of owner

●     Type of Certification:

3 Star, 4 Star, 5 Star, Heritage

●     Click here for Guidelines

●     Click here to apply

★    Apartment Hotel: A hotel where accommodation is provided in rooms with additional space & facilities, like studios or apartments.

●     Eligibility Criteria:

1.    Minimum no. of lettable room will be 10

2.    PAN, GST & Aadhaar number of owner

●     Type of Certification:

3 Star, 4 Star, 5 Star, 5 Star Deluxe

●     Click here for Guidelines

●     Click here to apply

★    Tented Accommodation: An accommodation unit where rooms are made of fabric for ease of transport. These may be at any location including camping sites.

●     Eligibility Criteria:

1.    Minimum no. of lettable room will be 6

2.    PAN, GST & Aadhaar number of owner

●     Type of Certification:

Standard, Deluxe

●     Click here for Guidelines

●     Click here to apply

★    Heritage: Hotels running in palaces/castles/forts / havelies / hunting loges/residence of any size built prior to 1950. The facade, architectural features and general construction should have distinctive qualities and ambience in keeping with the traditional way of life of the area. After expansion/renovation, if any, the newly built-up area added should not exceed 50% of the total built-up (plinth) area including the old and new structures.

●     Eligibility Criteria:

1. Minimum no. of lettable room will be 5

2. PAN, GST & Aadhaar number of owner

●     Type of Certification:

Heritage Basic, Heritage Classic without Alcohol, Heritage Classic with Alcohol, Heritage Grand

●     Click here for Guidelines

●     Click here to apply

★    Convention center: A building or group of buildings designed for conventions, industrial shows, and the like, having exhibit areas with F&B facilities and may include hotel accommodation and other facilities

●     Eligibility Criteria:

1.    For convention with residentials-Minimum no. of lettable room will be 10

2.    For convention without residentials- No criteria

3.    PAN, GST & Aadhaar number of owner

●     Type of Certification

Approval

●     Click here for Guidelines

●     Click here to apply

★    Food Business Operator

An entity carrying out any of the activities related to any stage of manufacture, processing, packaging, storage, transportation, distribution of food, imports and including food services, sale of food, or food ingredients.

1.    Standalone Restaurant: A Unit involved in preparation & service of food & beverages on premises to customers or for take away/home delivery

●     Eligibility Criteria:

1.    PAN, GST & Aadhaar number of owner

●     Type of Certification

Approval

●     Click here for Guidelines

●     Click here to apply

2.    Standalone Air Catering Unit: A Unit involved in the preparation and delivery of packaged food & beverages to an airport for consumption aboard an aircraft while in flight.

●     Eligibility Criteria:

1.    PAN, GST & Aadhaar number of owner

●     Click here for Guidelines

●     Click here to apply

4. STCI: Definition

A pathbreaking initiative has been launched by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India to mainstream sustainability in the tourism sector through NIDHI Plus Portal. The platform shall facilitate classification and implementation of Sustainable Tourism Criteria of India (STCI) for tourism service providers.

Applicability of STCI Certification:

STCI Certification has been launched for Accommodation Units on NIDHI Plus Portal. The accommodation units can register through unit login and apply for STCI certification. The Portal also enables the units to apply for showcasing.

●     Click here for Guidelines

●     Click here to apply

Who can apply?

5. Showcasing:

Each registered entity will have an option to showcase the facilities and services they provide. This information can be uploaded through a web application in the dashboard of the registered entity. The information provided will be published on NIDHI+ after validation by the State.

Who can apply?

Accommodation:

★     Farm Stay: An accommodation unit which is typical of rural accommodation on an operating farm.

●     Eligibility Criteria:

1.    Minimum no. of lettable room will be 1

2.    PAN, GST & Aadhaar number of owner

●     Click here for Guidelines

●     Click here to apply

★    Lodge & Tourist Home: An Accommodation Unit located mostly in a rural environment or outskirts.

●     Eligibility Criteria:

1.    Minimum no. of lettable room will be 1

2.    PAN, GST & Aadhaar number of owner

●     Click here for Guidelines

●     Click here to apply

★    11. Houseboat: Accommodation is provided on static or mobile boats with catering facilities.

●     Eligibility Criteria:

1.    Minimum no. of lettable room will be 1

2.    PAN, GST & Aadhaar number of owner

●     Click here for Guidelines

●     Click here to apply

6. Tourist Feedback-

Tourist feedback is the rating and comments provided by travelers about their travel experiences, including hotels, restaurants, attractions, transportation and tourism service providers. It helps Service and Destinations to improve and assists other travelers in making informed decisions.

7. Destinations -

A tourist destination in India refers to a place attracting travelers for its cultural, historical, natural, or recreational offerings. India boasts a diverse range of attractions, from ancient historical sites to stunning natural beauty and modern recreational activities. The government of India is committed to promoting responsible and sustainable tourism practices, helping to ensure that the country's rich cultural and natural heritage is preserved for future generations.

8. Attractions-