Home away from Home

The spirit of Nepalese tourism lies in natural richness and its indigenous societies with their mystic culture which can be best showcased through homestay. Nepal has always been hothouse of tourism with every district of small country possessing socio-cultural uniqueness to offer international visitors. Apart from the fact that there are thousands of hotels and resorts catering to tourists; the charm towards homestay is also mounting in rampant way. Homestays, still an afterthought dimension of tourism in Nepal, is gradually ascending to the level of dominant hospitality market as many innovative travellers these days prefer homely comfort during holidays. The main reason for its rampant growth is it adds genuine socio-cultural components to the tourist’s experience. For many travel enthusiasts, homestay provide precise opportunity to assimilate with local customs, relish local cuisine and to get to know the real local lifestyle. Different from solely profit oriented and synthetic hotels, homestay is one among the inimitable chance to experience life as it is lived.

As British photographer Martin Parr once said, “The thing about tourism is that the reality of a place is quite different from the mythology of it.” Nepal’s diverse population with equally unique traditional and cultural way of life can best be explored through homestay tourism. It would further revive local cultures by showcasing real Nepal to the rest of the world. Whilst modern travellers are seeking unique as well as authentic travel experiences at once and the hospitality sector is constantly evolving to keep up with new trends. In such context the beautiful places and enriched hospitality culture of Nepal can fulfil tourist’s desire to experience ‘home away from home’.

Nepal can transform the inherent blessing of nature into tourism potentiality in rural areas via homestay practice. Considering the case of developing country that lacks extensive infrastructural investment but possesses rich assets to attract tourist in remote communities, homestays can function as alternative ground. It’s a rare type of lodging practice that has evolved under tourism to contribute the development of sustainable tourism practice in Nepal. Likewise it also thrives as progeny of eco-tourism and village tourism which aims to solidify local economy by consuming local resource and encourage local entrepreneurship. This type of tourism practice usually stands on three bases which include attraction, service and promotion. Till date Nepal holds strong hand in attraction only whereas it lacks investment on other two domains.

This particular hospitality industry must expand its offerings to move on with growing prospects. While upgrading homestay services the stakeholders should make basic changes in infrastructures to meet the interest of visitors. The blend of domestic lifestyle with some international standard, in short offering local experience in modern ways would create favourable environment for international tourist. It actually would add more welcome doors towards many virgin tourist destinations in the country that short lodging conveniences. Homestays empowers natives to become micro-entrepreneurs by capitalizing their way of life and space that already exist in home. It further monetize women’s household chores which otherwise would never have got any economic value and make women financially independent.

Concerning the market feasibility of the community homestay programme in Nepal there seems more opportunities than threats. It just requires proper advertisement and institutional arrangements. As the pristine land is situated between the two giant populations India and China and this geographical framework automatically upturn tourism scope. The Himalayan country needs no artificial polish to paint its glorifying natural attractions, it just require creative approach and huge promotion to develop tourism products like homestay.

In present time the practical threat to homestay tourism is its sustainability. Taking the case of some successful community homestays models such as Ghale gaun, Sirubari; these homestay programs has been facing generation doom. Most of the homestays are operated by old age, uneducated and women’s’ groups while young generation are migrating in cities or foreign land for greater opportunities. Particularly in Sirubari mostly the elderly people are keenly engaged in homestay tourism activities and their offspring seems more lured to other employment that tourism sectors. Still homestay is taken as passive business for uneducated, unemployed and dependent member of family. If this trend continues then homestay tourism can collapse within next generation. Likewise unprofessional tourism management and absence of the government initiatives in research and planning of the Homestay Tourism further puts its sustainability in vulnerable edge. Issues of poor groundwork such as roads, health facilities in the rural tourist places and need of feasibility studies and adequate plans are often overlooked. Also the government had not exercised proper caution to protect indigenous cultures and heritages which is back bone of homestay tourism in Nepal.

Similarly during the management of community homestay practice the issue of benefit sharing among all the community members remain as problem. Therefore collective distribution system should be planned in such a way that every stakeholder involved in this sector of tourism should get their share. Also establishing community fund as to invest in infrastructure and service can further improve this sector. There seems urgent need for digital promotion and creation of genuine homestay tourism database so that visitors can easily explore, choose the package and book their stay. The administrations like Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), NATHM and Village Tourism promotion Forum Nepal (VITOF) should take such initiatives. Till now there exist no dedicated governmental body actively engaged in homestay development issues however NTB has been working on some promotion programs.

Despite some challenges homestay program is rising nationwide. Namely Kavrepalanchok has registered more than 26 homestay homes while Makwanpur has at least 11 and Chitwan and Nuwakot have around 10 and 12 respectively. Gorkha, Ilam, Palpa, Syangja, Kailali and Chitlang too are on the wagon. Even if small portion of tourist visit some remotes homestays, it would supports rural poverty reduction and preservation of indigenous culture. This particular initiative will also serve Nepal government’s sustainable tourism development policies by building capacity in rural community.