important to maintain and upgrade our homestay ’ s standards even during the uncertainty , as I am sure whenever the pandemic ends , travelers would return to our beautiful community .”
Shared Action and Responsibility
In the case of Nepal , many community homestays and experiences have contributed to adding new tourist destinations throughout the country . Sirubari in Syanjha and Narchyang in the Annapurna Circuit area are prime examples of this . They are proof that CBT also diversifies tourist destinations and promotes lesserknown areas , creating benefits for those who truly belong to the region .
However , planning tours to such regions should not solely be on the shoulders of the traveler . The travel industry too should share responsibility in creating a sustainable future by providing travelers with varied options to make their travel sustainable , responsible , ethical , and environmentally friendly . This could translate to anything , from tour operators including immersive local destinations in their itineraries , to curating unique cultural experiences .
As a tour and travel operator , our role includes not only promoting pre-existing tourism products and experiences , but also supporting communities in curating immersive travel experiences that preserve and promote their culture . For example , Panauti , though not far away from Kathmandu , was in the shadows for non-domestic travelers until CHN ’ s community homestay model started promoting the ancient Newar town . The introduction of CBT practices in the town allowed for the participation of locals in tourism activities and helped divert traffic from highly popular destinations to an equally beautiful yet unexplored location .
Even more interestingly , the influx of business also helped revive Panauti ’ s culture of playing Dhime Baja , a traditional instrument . A lack of interest amongst youths in the region had driven the art of the instrument to the brink of extinction . However , the curation of the Panauti homestay experience in 2019 presented an opportunity to local youth to relearn their own culture and preserve a traditional form of art .
Rhinocerouses walking in Bardiya . Photo by RMT .
24 www . insidehimalayas . com by Royal Mountain Travel