Impact Analysis of Nagarkot Community Homestay of Changunarayan Municipality, Bhaktapur

Abstract

In recent years, homestays have been quite popular in promoting tourism business in many rural areas of Nepal. In homestays, individual families rent their private rooms for tourists and visitors. It has become an important source of livelihood for many families in rural areas where they can generate some income. Unlike hotels run by business persons, homestays have been run by local families in their own houses. Homestays are primarily popular in most of the rural areas where hotels are not available. This has helped tourists (domestic and international) to explore local culture, traditions, diversity among others. Guests live with villagers as family members, sharing their kitchen, even daily activities and can feel like a home away from home. They can also engage in daily activities and household chores of local people that provide a memorable experience. This study explores the Nagarkot Community Homestay of Bhaktapur and its impact on economic, socio-cultural and gender aspects of the region. This research uses a mixed method approach with the use of qualitative and quantitative methods to analyze the data. The findings of this study are based on research conducted among 120 households where 10 households are directly involved in this homestay business and 110 are indirectly beneficiated. Household survey, observation and key informant interviews are conducted in the study area to meet the objective of this research. The findings of this study are based on both positive and negative impacts on homestay business in this region. According to the analyzing of receiving data the researcher found about the economic impact of respondents life as well as their statement on the agreement about the increment in the income as well as relation between gender and financial satisfaction. 85.8% of sampled populations are with the statement of increasing their income through the homestay business where 14.2% are neutral. In that community homestay business plays a vital role in their community in a sense of economic growth of every household, empowered women entrepreneurship, education and quality of life. Similarly, local communities were becoming aware of their cultural heritages, its preservation, and development of new local infrastructure. It will be contributing to generate more Employment opportunities, infrastructure development and eventually contributing to poverty reduction.