Classification of Houseboats operating in backwaters of Kerala | Kerala Houseboats Category Classification

Houseboats classification scheme

Government of Kerala has issued a detailed scheme for approval and classification of Houseboats operating in the backwaters of the State, setting specific standards in quality of material of construction, facilities offered on board, including size of rooms, quality of furniture, quality of services including size of rooms, quality of furniture, quality of services, including food and beverages, safety and security measures etc vide Government order G.O.(Ms.) No. 323/2000/GAD dated 3/4/2000.

As per G.O.(Ms) No.12/2019/TSM dated 8/7/2019, Government has accorded approval for the revised scheme for Classification of Houseboats operating in backwaters of Kerala.

As per revised scheme, Houseboats are classified into three categories.

Silver Vessel
Gold Vessel
Diamond Vessel

Silver Vessel is the category having minimum facilities and Diamond Vessel is category having highest facilities.

Houseboats fulfilling all the Necessary conditions prescribed by the Department of Tourism and meeting the required criteria in the Checklist of facilities, will be given Diamond Vessel status, second category will be awarded Gold Vessel and lower category will be awarded Silver Vessel status instead of existing Silver Star, Gold Star and Green Palm categories.

Procedure of Approval

Every person intending to start operations in the backwaters of Kerala should, if desiring to get classification, apply for approval online to the Department of Tourism. Those who are already operating houseboats should also apply online for the approval if they desire to get classification from the Department of Tourism.
A payment of Rs. 6250/- as Application Fee per houseboat has to be done online while submitting the application
Inspection Committee will examine the facilities based on checklist. As per recommendation of the committee, classification will be awarded

Govt. Subsidies

The houseboats approved by the Department of Tourism under the revised scheme of classification alone would be eligible for various financial benefits sanctioned to the Houseboat sector from time to time, including 10% State investment subsidy contemplated in Government order G.O. (P.) No.14/ 88/ GAD dated 12.11.88.

Regulatory Conditions

Classification is valid for two years from date of issue of the order.
Copy of valid license from Port Department should be produced to the Department every year during the classification
The houseboats should be brought for inspection at the place where the committee desires, at the expense of the owners.
The existing classification will be valid until reclassification, provided application for reclassification is submitted with the required fees three months before the expiry of the existing classification.
Application for reclassification should be submitted three months before the expiry date along with the prescribed fees. Otherwise it will be considered as fresh application.
The Classification Certificate of Houseboats will be issued by the Director, Department of Tourism.
Classified Houseboats have to maintain required standards at all times.
Director, Department of Tourism or an officer deputed by the Director, Department of Tourism or the concerned Joint Director/Deputy Director has the right to inspect classified houseboat at any time without prior notice.
The approval by the Department of Tourism will be withdrawn in case of violation of classification conditions, as and when brought to its notice.
Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala reserves the right to modify the guidelines/ terms and conditions from time to time.
The classification obtained under this scheme is not a substitute for the license/ sanctions required to be obtained from the authorities concerned under the existing rules and regulations.
Classified houseboats have to display KIV number, Name and Classification certificate permanently.

Documents to be uploaded with the application of classification

Acceptance of regulatory condition in Rs: 200/- Stamp Paper
Copy of up to date license from Port Department
Document relating to legal status, i.e. if the company is incorporated in the Companies Act
Copy of the Memorandum and Articles of Association (If company)
Copy of the partnership deed and the certificate of Registration under the Partnership Act, if it is a partnership firm
Name and address of the proprietor etc., if it is a proprietary concern
Copy of Police clearance certificate from the Local Station House Officer
Copy of Certificate from Pollution control board
Copy of Third party insurance of travellers and staff
Copy of First aid training certificate of all staff
Copy of Fire training certificate of all staff
Copy of Medical certificate of kitchen staff suppliers.
copy of license Srank, Driver & Lascar
Copy of Fire and safety certificate
Copy of fssai certificate
Declaration regarding the area of operation

Houseboat Classification Inspection Committee

The committee for the classification of Houseboat is constituted with the following members:

Director, Tourism/Representative	Chairman and Convener
Director, Port Department/ Representative	Member
State Co ordinator, RT Mission	Member
Secretary, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO)/Representative	Member
Representative of Food Craft Institute (FCI) or IHMCT	Member
[ Minimum three of the above make the quorum to constitute the committee]

Checklist of facilities and Services

Sl No	Condition	Silver Vessel	Gold Vessel	Diamond Vessel
A	General
1	The general making of the houseboat should be good	N	N	N
2	Size of rooms in the houseboat should not be lesser than the specifications mentioned below: Bed rooms : 80 sq.ft( Minimum width – 7 ft) Living/Dining : 80 sq. Ft Kitchen : 20 sq. Ft Attached toilet : 20 sq. ft (minimum width - 3 ft) Common toilet : 10 sq. Ft Passage : 3 ft wide	N	N	N
3	Good quality Furniture	N	N	N
4	Common toilet for the staff	N	N	N
5	Maintain Reservation Register, Occupancy Register and Log Book and regularly updated tourist records	N	N	N
6	Provision for 24 hour electricity on board the houseboat for lights and fans.	N	N	N
7	The general construction of the houseboat should show distinctive qualities of luxury	D	N	N
8	Superior quality carpets, curtains, furniture etc	D	N	N
9	Alternate sources of energy for fuel, like solar power, to be used for heating, lighting etc.	D	D	D
10	Use of LED lamps	N	N	N
11	Use of biogas stove	D	D	D
12	Green Energy efficient	D	D	D

B	Bed Rooms
1	Bed rooms provided with an attached toilet of Western style.	N	N	N
2	Clean and good quality linen and toiletries	N	N	N
3	A/C facility	D	N	N
4	24 hour A/s facility	D	D	N

C	Staff
1	Staff uniform	N	N	N
2	50% of the workers employed from district of the houseboat's operation.	N	N	N
3	All Staff having swimming knowledge	N	N	N
4	Experienced staff members fluent in English.	D	N	N
5	Training for Staff in a year by Government approved agencies like KITTS.	D	D	N

D	Kitchen and Dining
1	Kitchen having following provisions * Using fire-proof materials * Having at least two fire extinguishers	N	N	N
2	Storage hold in the kitchen must be hygienic. Food materials on board should be packed properly and stored in a clean environment.	N	N	N
3	Good quality crockery and glassware	N	N	N
4	Provision for 24 hour hot and cold running water.	N	N	N
5	Purified Water/ Hot water for Cooking & Drinking	N	N	N
6	Provision of a refrigerator on board.	D	N	N
7	Arrangement for providing guests a menu of their choice.	D	N	N

E	Safety and Security
1	Fuel storage should not be near the kitchen.	N	N	N
2	The house boat should have at least 2 Lifebuoys must be in one bed room House boat. It should be increased in a ratio of 1:1(One life buoy for 1 bed room ratio) Minimum 5 fire buckets must be in one house boat	N	N	N
3	First Aid Kit	N	N	N
4	GPS system	N	N	N
5	Hand rails in front and back of the Boats	N	N	N
6	Cross bars, if upper deck allowed in the boat	N	N	N
7	Smoke alarm in the Engine room	N	N	N

F	Display
1	Permanent display of name and KIV on both sides of the houseboat	N	N	N
2	Display of route of the trip, time of cruise, night halt point	N	N	N
3	Display of permitted number of staff and Passengers, awareness, demo posters about life jacket and it’s usage, style of wearing life jacket and Emergency numbers (Police, Fire, and Ambulance)	N	N	N
4	Display of Dos and Don’ts	N	N	N
5	KIV Number must be painted in the Life jacket, Life Buoy and Fire extinguisher and Fire bucket	N	N	N

G	Waste Management
1	Alternative arrangements for discharging solid wastes and sewage, like scientifically designed septic tanks and bio toilets	N	N	N
2	Bio degradable waste management (such as composting/aero bins/biogas plants etc)	N	N	N
3	Plastic and other non biodegradable waste management (such as collection agents)	N	N	N
4	Septage, liquid waste and sewage management (such as biotoilet/use of septage treatment facilities)	N	N	N
5	Use of paper bags, cloth bags and other alternatives instead of polythene bags	N	N	N

H	Responsible Tourism
1	Code of conduct for Guest & Staffs which represents the necessity to honour the privacy of local people and it is display	N	N	N
2	Agreement signed with RT units of LSGs/Farmers/ Farmers groups/Fishermen/Fishermen group/Kudumbahsree groups for the purchase of Tender coconut, Fish, chicken, milk, egg, vegetables and fruits etc	D	N	N
3	Differently abled friendly and accessible tourism infrastructure like ramps, disabled friendly toilets, Braille material etc	D	N	N
4	Ensuring RT units for Art group performance & Local festival experience for guest	D	D	N
5	Ensuring village life experience tour packages of RT Mission for long stay guest	D	D	N
6	Conducting programs for Medical Awareness, Medical Camps or other activities with NGOs/LSGs for local people	D	D	N
Index: D- Desirable , N- Necessary