The historical town of Kirtipur is infamous for the rebellion demonstrated by its locals against the invasion of the then-declared king, Prithivi Narayan Shah, in the mid 1700s. However, Kirtipur has been gaining popularity for other reasons in recent years. Initially inhabited by farmers, Kirtipur used to be an agricultural town. After the establishment of Tribhuvan University, the town has experienced a rapid transition from an agricultural town to a commercial business and student accommodation hub.

As travel has become a mainstream activity, leading the travel industry to the top tiers of the global economy, people are becoming more conscious about the impacts that travelers can have on the planet. There is a noticeable rise in conscious travelers looking for more sustainable and responsible ways of traveling. While luxury travel still seems to be prevalent, people are looking for alternatives that take a more accountable approach to travelling. That’s where community tourism comes in. 

Community tourism is a form of tourism where local communities invite tourists to experience their culture, lifestyle, and natural environment, with the management and benefits remaining within the community. It emphasizes sustainable practices, economic benefits, and empowerment for residents, offering authentic cultural exchanges through activities like homestays, traditional cuisine, local crafts, and guided tours. This approach promotes cultural understanding and sustainable development, ensuring that tourism positively impacts the host communities.

Since its inception in 1997 AD, homestay tourism in Nepal has been gaining steady popularity, with over 500 rural areas in Nepal offering homestay experiences. The hospitality practices of the Nepalese people are already adored throughout the world. Homestays allow people to capitalize on these practices as local hosts get a chance to entertain domestic and international tourists as guests in their households. Any homestays, providing hospitality and facilities, with a minimum of 5 houses under a community management agreement, are known as community homestays (source: Exploring Homestay Tourism in Nepal: Unveiling Opportunities and Challenges, Dol Raj Kafle)

Homestays are often seen as cheap alternatives to expensive hotels, resorts, and overcrowded destinations. Travelers need to understand the value that these community homestays provide, whether tangible or intangible. That is one of the key aspects of community tourism. When you’re investing in any community tourism entity, you’re not just creating an impact on the sole proprietor of that entity; you’re also benefiting the whole community through that investment. In this article, we’ll be exploring the tangible and intangible value of community homestays so that the next time you book a stay in any community homestays, you realize the significance of your investment in that particular community.

Led by the indigenous residents of Kirtipur, the Kirtipur Community Homestay is an exemplary entity of community tourism. In addition to the accommodation services provided by the locals, travelers can also explore local eateries and learn about the ancient scripts, in the form of Ranjana Lipi workshops, run by the community members themselves. Hence, with initiatives such as these, the members of the Kirtipur community have been working collaboratively to safeguard their historically rich culture and heritage. 

Ganga Maharjan, a member of the Managing Committee of Kirtipur Community Homestay, shared the origins of the initiative. “In 2012 CE, without prior knowledge of homestays, I began accommodating volunteer tourists from an organization in my house. Seeing the growing interest among other community members in offering homestay services, we decided to formalize our efforts. Initially, in 2015 CE, I registered my homestay as a private entity. Later, in 2019 CE, with the participation of tourism-interested community members who completed a homestay training program conducted by NATHM, we officially registered Kirtipur Community Homestay in the municipality. Our objective was to retain visitors in Kirtipur and enhance the local tourism experience.”

Economic Benefits

Community tourism has significant financial advantages for both individual hosts and the larger community. Through services like homestays, guided tours, and local crafts, hosts are given a direct source of revenue, generating jobs and promoting economic empowerment. On a larger scale, towns gain from the construction of better roads, schools, and medical facilities—infrastructure supported by tourism money. Support from the tourist industry helps local companies grow and diversify the economy, reducing reliance on conventional sectors. Because of their mutually beneficial connection, tourism promotes resilient communities and sustained economic growth.

Cultural Safeguarding or Preservation

Community homestays, by their promotion of lively cultural interchange and upholding of local customs, are vital to the preservation of culture. The income from these homestays contributes to the funding of festivals and cultural events, guaranteeing the survival of these essential manifestations of cultural heritage. These communities may also market and sell regional goods and crafts, giving them a steady market and maintaining traditional methods of production. In addition to enhancing visitors’ experiences, this vibrant exchange between tourists and the community strengthens locals’ sense of cultural identity and pride.

The Ranjana Lipi Workshop is one of the initiatives of the people of Kirtipur Community Homestay, where travellers can learn about the ancient Newari script. The workshop is led by the locals, where you will learn the proper stroking techniques to write the ancient script. You will also be feasting on local Newari delicacies like the Samaya Baji while you’re engaged in learning the Ranjana script. The reaps of your hard work will be rewarded to you in the form of souvenirs, where your ability to draw the ancient script will be placed in a wooden frame and given to you.  

Environmental Benefits

Community tourism encourages host communities and their visitors to engage in eco-friendly practices such as minimizing wastage and efficient energy usage in addition to responsible utilization of natural resources. Also, revenue collected from tourists supports critical conservation initiatives that safeguard local ecosystems and wildlife populations, as well as other natural resources.

Kabita Maharjan Raut, a member of Kirtipur Community Homestay, has observed significant benefits after establishing a homestay in her community. One of the most notable improvements is the increased cleanliness in the area. When guests are expected, many community members actively participate in keeping the surroundings clean. Women’s groups, present in each ward, organize weekly cleaning programs to maintain the community’s hygiene. Additionally, the municipality has supported these efforts by providing more dustbins in public spaces, addressing a previous shortage.

Authentic & Personal Tourism Experiences

Authentic interactions with community members and personalised services enhance the tourist experience, in general. Visitors engage in real-life experiences, such as participating in daily activities, cultural events, and traditional practices, providing a genuine glimpse into local life. Customised services ensure personalised hospitality, with hosts tailoring experiences to meet individual interests and preferences. These unique local insights and attentiveness create a memorable and enriching journey, setting community tourism apart from conventional travel options.

Sumitra Maharjan, a member of Kirtipur Community Homestay, says, “Usually, we didn’t use to wear our cultural dress – the Haku Patase. But since we’ve started to welcome foreign guests into our community, we’ve found more reasons to wear traditional dress and share our rituals.”

While the tangible values of community homestays have been discussed mostly above, here are some intangible values that a community or community-led homestay provides.

Social Cohesion

In a nation like Nepal, where communities are radically divided by racial and caste divisions, community tourism helps in strengthening community ties and interpersonal relationships. It also increases cohesion within an area through collaboration between residents when it comes to the development and management of tourism activities. Frequently, these interactions result in enduring relationships among hosts as well as tourists who, in turn, create a global support network, thereby transcending cultural barriers. Such connections, which are established between the two groups, enrich the experiences of both locals and visitors alike while creating a sense of common purpose and growth for all.

Cultural Understanding

Community homestays boost cultural understanding greatly by creating the conditions for significant cultural exchange and mutual respect. Visitors appreciate diverse cultures more since they interact directly with local people, becoming part of their rituals as well as daily lives. This experience enables both locals and guests to have respect for each other and tolerate different cultures, allowing them to break the walls of ethnicity to establish strong friendships perpetually based on empathy and understanding.

Sumitra Maharjan further states, “Most community members residing in this area are Newari people. However, despite coming from different backgrounds like Shrestha, Maharjan, Tandukar, Bajracharya, etc. all members work together to ensure the smooth operations of homestays.”

Personal Growth

Homestays allow guests and hosts alike to grow individually through meaningful engagements beyond the superficiality of tourism. For hosts, welcoming tourists helps build their self-confidence and skills related to hospitality, communication, and management of businesses, respectively. With that, they become more autonomous in their thinking and appreciate their own national cultures. On the contrary, visitors will have expanded horizons by living with locals according to customs, traditions, and ways of life. These authentic encounters at a personal level are significant as they build understanding, empathy, and tolerance towards different cultures.

Identity & Pride

Community tourism heavily enhances both cultural identity and pride. It enforces a profound sense of cultural pride among residents while assuring that their customs do not fade away but instead remain celebrated. The renaissance of culture serves to empower individuals and entire societies by inculcating a collective sense of respect for its distinctiveness and self-esteem. When tourists acknowledge the cultural expressions being made by the people living around them, they help them feel proud as a community, hence increasing the importance of their unique cultural identity within them all together.

In conclusion, community homestays stand as a testament to the transformative power of community tourism. By fostering economic growth, cultural preservation, environmental sustainability, and authentic travel experiences, it highlights the profound benefits of community-driven initiatives. As travellers engage with local traditions and contribute to the community’s prosperity, they forge lasting bonds and foster mutual respect. Kirtipur’s commitment to showcasing its rich heritage and sustainable practices ensures that tourism here is not just a visit, but a meaningful and enriching experience for all involved.