Core Viewpoint - The Huizhou Municipal Government has issued the "Implementation Details for Huizhou Homestay Management" to regulate the homestay industry, enhance service quality, protect the rights of tourists and operators, and promote sustainable development of the industry, effective from March 1, 2026, for a duration of three years [1] Group 1: Industry Background - Huizhou's homestay industry has a long history and has developed into a scaled operation, with the first homestay, the Gaoshan Forest Resort, established in the 1990s, setting a precedent for the "family inn" concept [1] - Over 30 years, Huizhou's rural hotels have developed a solid industrial foundation, evolving towards scale, clustering, and branding, with various themed homestays such as "coastal," "lakefront," "forest," "hot spring," and "cultural" [1] Group 2: Regulatory Changes - The new guidelines limit the number of guest rooms in a single building to a maximum of 14, with a potential increase to 20 for historical or traditional buildings under stricter fire safety requirements [2] - The guidelines mandate that homestay operators must equip necessary security measures such as anti-theft and video surveillance systems, shifting from a flexible to a mandatory requirement [2] - Wastewater from homestays is prohibited from entering drinking water sources, and those with conditions must connect to the sewage network or provide necessary wastewater treatment facilities [2] Group 3: Support and Supervision - The guidelines support the quality upgrade and diversification of the homestay industry, allowing homestays to apply for grading after one year of operation, following the latest tourism standards [3] - The government will enhance supervision through special inspections, random checks, and online monitoring to address illegal operations and maintain market order [3]