Impacts of Homestay Tourism on People's Life: A Comparative Study of Amaltari and Ghaleygaun of Nepal

Abstract

Homestay tourism developed as an alternative form of tourism. In rural homestay, tourists stay with host family, get chance to enjoy and experience host family culture and life ways in purely local setting. The community managed homestay tourism, driven by sustainable development approach is expected to benefit especially, the grassroots and isolated but culturally and naturally rich community economically with simultaneous protection of environment and traditional culture. This dissertation focused on Impacts of Homestay Tourism on People's Life: a comparative study of Amaltari and Ghalaygaun in Nepal.

The study adopted exploratory and descriptive design, with mixed methods and triangulation approach to the study. The study covered two ecological zones; one in the southern terai (plain land) region and next from the northern hills of Nepal. The study is based on multi stage sampling that comprised of purposive sampling for selecting the homestay in two ecological zones and subsequently the simple random sampling for selecting household units of 20 host households and 20 non-homestay households for impacts study. SPSS and Excel were used as analytical tools.

The case study conducted in Amaltari Madhyawarti homestay and Ghalegaun revealed that it has huge potential for homestay tourism. Not necessarily the modern infrastructure and the climate, but of course the basic amenities, the natural beauty, the culture, history and isolation from the usual life ways that many of us do have contributed to flourishment of homestay with the average annual income of Rs. 293,200 and Rs. 213,226 in Amaltari and Ghalegaun respectively contributing to 45 percent of the total yearly income of the HHs.

The perception of the operating host members, non-homestay HMC members, tourists, the associated Government line agencies and other NGOs on tourism development were more positive. The research findings identified much agreement among the two villages suggesting that homestay has been instrumental in bringing positive impacts; economic gains, employment generation, social cohesion, enhanced community infrastructure and cultural and environmental preservation. However, there is loss of traditional economic activities with declining interest on agriculture, cultural ways of life and intense work pressure. Among the two villages, Amaltari was a novice while Ghalegaun was in the maturity stage of Butler’s (1980) Life Cycle Model. Despite the duration of their homestay experience of the two villages, the Doxey’s (1975) Irridex Model practically prevailed in both the villages with not much difference.

An attempt was also done to distinguish the motive factors of the host community and the tourist that is crucial for increasing the opportunity and diluting the challenges prevailed in the area. The findings concluded that the desire to economic gain, and increased employment among local people as the major driving factor to homestay entrepreneurship.

The study concluded that there are four pillars to success and sustainability of homestay; natural, cultural, potentiality realization and leadership at local level. The synergy of leadership and the self-motivation of locals is pivotal in homestay tourism development.

However, the emigration of able bodied man power in the villages resulting elderly ones back in the village was a challenge to homestay expansion and lack of funds for the poorest was another serious obstacle for creating inclusive homestay as it advocates pro-poor tourism for rural development. Equally, the role of all stakeholders including the government can add life to homestay sustainability especially in rural areas that are in dire needs of assistance in big projects such as infrastructure development. Hence, policy implications emerging from findings have been outlined and future strategies are suggested.