E-Kantipur

JAN 31 -

Spurred on by growing number of tourists visiting their village, local people of Sikles in Kaski district have been handing homestay service to visitors on

a silver platter.

Homestay programmes, locally promoted by Sikles Youth Club, offer an opportunity to taste the typical Gurung lifestyle. Sikles was established as a model trekking village and is an integral part of the eco route of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP).

Accommodation and lodging facilities supplemented by the showcase of rich traditions and culture are offered to homestaying tourists. “Experiencing a homestay in a traditional village is the best way to get immersed in the local lifestyle and establish warm bond with villagers,” said Rosee Maharjan, environment graduate who recently visited Sikles.

Yam Kumari Subba Gurung, 45, a local owner of a homestay house, said that in Sikles, some homestays provide lodging while other offer accommodation facilities. “One house can accommodate at least four to five visitors at a time.” More visitors are prefer staying in locals’ home to hotels and motels as homestay is cheap and cheerful.

Sikles is considered one of the best villages that has contributed to ecotourism by promoting homestay at both individual and community levels. Sirubari in Syangja district is the country’s first model village designed to experience village based tourism in homestay.

It is estimated that more than 45 districts in the country are promoting the homestay programme.

In a bid to celebrate the Nepal Tourism Year 2011, the government had initiated a campaign to promote homestay across the country, particularly in the famous eco-trails and tourist areas.

According to Aditya Baral, senior director at the Nepal Tourism Board, the government implemented the homestay guidelines and procedures from August last year to ensure that tourism benefits are reaped by local communities. “We promoted the homestay concept as part of the government’s programme as an alternative to fulfill the shortage of accommodation for the target of one million tourists last year,” he said. The guidelines envisage two modalities for homestay—community homestay and private homestay. As per the guidelines, individuals or communities willing to provide homestay facilities should register themselves with concerned district development committees.

The individuals or communities ready to start homestay service should have the facilities like safe and secure environment, proper hygiene and sanitation, hygienic food and proper hospitality treatment, among others. The guidelines also has a separate code of conduct for tourists like dressing in an appropriate manner, promoting host culture and tradition and staying away from drugs and narcotics, among others.

Baral said that the government hasn’t been able to evaluate the individual and community managed homestay as required owing to the ongoing political instability in the country.

Posted on: 2012-01-31 08:32

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