Homestays seen in Deqing county, Huzhou, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/hz66.com]

Deqing county in Huzhou recently initiated its certification for rural homestay services, becoming the first place in China to do so.

The homestay industry in Deqing has undergone remarkable development in recent years. Mount Mogan, a renowned summer resort in the county, for example, has become one of the most popular homestay destinations in the nation.

To regulate the growing market, Deqing has rolled out a guideline regarding certification for rural homestay services by teaming up with institutions such as the Zhejiang Institute of Standardization.

Pan Genliang, deputy head of the Deqing bureau of market supervision, pointed out that the certification will facilitate service standardization in the homestay industry and boost customer confidence in the market.

Certification results of homestays can now be found on online travel platforms, including Ctrip and Fliggy, and this will encourage homestays to improve their service quality, Pan added.

In June, the application made by Deqing to make homestay housekeeper a new vocation was also approved by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. A homestay housekeeper refers to a person who offers customized services related to lodging, catering and tourism guidance.