A REPORT ON

Home Stay Trip (Village Tourism) Visit & Assessment

(With Special Reference to Bhumlichok VDC, Gorkha, Nepal)

SUBMITTED TO:

Nepal Tourism Board (NTB)

Bhrikutimandap (Pradarshani Marg), Kathmandu, Nepal

SUBMITTED BY:

Coordinator: Jt. Treasurer, Mr. Karna Bahadur Rana

Nepal Magar Tourism Society

Contact: 014417188, Email: nmtsnepal@gmail.com

Thamel, Lekhanath Marga-29

Kathmandu, Bagmati, Nepal

January, 2017

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

1.1 Introduction………………………………….…………….…..........1

1.2 Objectives of the study………………………………….……..........2

1.3 Activities & Work Plan ………………………………….…............3

1.4 Team Contain …………………………….…………….……..........3

1.5 Outcome……………..………………………………….……..........4

1.6 Visits & Assessments Sites at Bhumlichok, Gorkha..….……..........5

1.7 Finding & Recommendations.………………………….……..........6

1.7.1 Educational Training & Recommendations ….……………..8

1.7.2 Need to Understand About Related Market .………………..8

1.8 Conclusion ................................................................................….....9

1.9 Photo from Bhumlichok Bhairabi Home Stay………….…….........12

1.10 Media reports about Bhumlichok Bhairabi Home Stay ....…….......24

1.11 Online News about Bhumlichok Bhirabi Home Stay Trip …..........26

List of Table Table: 1.1: Activities & Plan Work……………………………………....3

Table: 1.2: Team Contain……………………………………...………....3

Table: 1.3: Infrastructural and Facilities Available ……….……………..5

ABBREVIATIONS/ACRONYMS

CBS = Central Bureau of Statistics

DDC = District Development Committee

GTEAN = Gurung Tourism Entrepreneurs Association Nepal

INGO = International Non-Government Organization

NGO = Non-Government Organization

NPC = National Planning Commission

NTB = Nepal Tourism Board

STN = Sustainable Tourism Network

TAAN = Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal

NATTA = Nepal Association of Tour & Travel Agents

NMA = Nepal Mountaineering Association

NMTS = Nepal Magar Tourism Society

VDC = Village Development Committee

VITOF = Village Tourism Promotion Forum Nepal

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INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction

Nepal is a country of natural beauty having wide scope of tourism

opportunities. Though tourism sector has lot of prospect for economic progress and

prosperity, the country hasn't been able to tap its potentiality. Tourism is one of the

biggest industries in terms of employment generation and economic activity

throughout the world. It is considered as a ‘smokeless industry’ and has been

rapidly growing in the last few decades.

Nepal is rich in natural heritages like mountain, river, pond, temple, rural

village. The country is boast of different ethnic culture of Limbu, Tamang, Gurung,

Magar, Thakali, Bhote,Tharu, Rai, Newar, etc. which are important tourism

products. Mountaineering, Trekking, Sightseeing, Wild life observation and Rafting

are the main tourism activities in the country. Nepal government has great role in

development of infrastructure of various tourism destinations and promotion.

Travel agencies, Trekking agencies, Hotel Association have great role for

promotion and selling of tourism products in domestic and international sector. In

present context home-stay plays vital role for strengthening and sustaining the

tourism industry thereby providing economic growth of the rural areas in Nepal. It

has attracted domestic as well as international tourists significantly.

Home-stay is an individual or collective (community) service provided by the

local towards tourist. Home-stay tourism is a community-based program introduced

by the Government of Nepal (regulation 2067). Tourists can have direct interaction

and gain first-hand experiences of day-to-day life of the community people in a

natural setting. The concept of home-stay is to address theme of eco-tourism in

Nepal. The program is in preliminary form which brings impact on women,

marginalized communities and uplifts local economy, protects environment where

the entrepreneurs show the effectiveness of the home-stay approach. This approach

preserves biodiversities, rural lifestyle, cultures and identities as a whole. A

growing number of locals are operating the home-stay program, offering tourists a

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window into their local culture serving tourists by providing local organic food and

basic stay in their home. Some of the popular home stay in the country are ,

Sirubari, Ghalegaun, Kaulepani home stay, Bhada home stay, Ranatharu home

stay, Barpak home stay, Chitlang home stay, Bandipur home stay etc.

Nepal Magar Tourism Society (NMTS) has been working since 2011 for

fostering and exploring potential destination of rural tourism with the objective of

increasing the number of tourists in rural areas. In this context NMTS is helping to

generate synergic effort promoting the home stay services across this country such

as Bhumlichok Bhairabi Home stay at Gorkha districts as second pilot project.

1.2 Objectives of the study

The general objectives of the study focused on the problems and prospects of

village tourism in Bhumlichok which covers a broad area of activities. A brand new

concept of village tourism where the guests would be taken to the carefully picked

up village where you would be given the chances to know the local people, their

culture by allowing them to stay on one of the house as a family member. A few

guest room and kitchen are developed without disturbing the village environment.

Villagers continue their daily normal works and guests enjoy participating in the

village activities. Tourist are staying as a family member with host family, you can

participate in all activities of their daily choirs. These activities includes home stay,

community based tourism or sustainable village tourism and many more giving a

name as village tourism.

The main purpose of the project is overall learning and interacting with people

by visiting home-stays of Bhumlichok Bhairabi, at Gorkha districts. The main

objectives of the visit are follows:

The specific objectives are:

To assess the present situation of tourism in the study area.

To inquire into the various problems and hindrances encountered for the

development of tourism and its promotion.

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To analyze the socio-economic and cultural activities in home-stay.

To observe the peoples’ participation and hospitality to the guests

in home-stay.

To assess the home-stay regulation 2067 and its compliance.

To learn much about the potentiality and challenges of home-stay.

To promote the new village as Tourist destinations.

1.3 Activities & Work Plan:

The recent 1 Night 2 day’s program activities were successfully carried out by

the team of tourism professionals, representative from different Tourism related

organizations, journalists and tourism entrepreneurs.

The following activities will be carried out in the visit program:

Table: 1.1. Activities & Work Plan

S.N. Date Activities Duration Remarks

1 09th

-Decmber

2016

Departure from Kathmandu

07:00 am to Bhumlichok

Bhairabi Home Stay & stay

over night

Drive by bus 3 ½

to 4 hours & walk

3 to 4 hours

With

NMTS

team

2 10th

-Decmber

2016

Explore historic, religious

and touristic attraction of

Bhumlichok, and drive

back to Kathmandu from

Fisling.

Walk 2 to 2 ½

hours to Fisling &

drive to

Kathmandu 3 ½

to 4 hours

With

NMTS

team

1.4 Team Contain

The participants during Bhumlichok Bhairabi Home Stay Trip Exploration

were following below:

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Table: 1.2. Team Contain

S.N. Participants details Number of

Participant

Remarks

1. TAAN 1

2. NMTS Members 25

3. Generalist (Tourism) 6

4. Photographer and Documentary 2

5. VITOF-Nepal representatives 1

6. GTEAN representatives 1

7. Others Tourism Entrepreneurs Expert 4

TOTAL = 40 PAX

1.5 Outcome

The team comprising of representatives from NMTS, TAAN, GTEAN, VITOF-

Nepal along with journalists, international writer, recently visited Bhumlichok

Bhairabi Home Stay. The team has succesfully completed visiting Bhumlichok

Bhairabi Home Stay at Gorkha.

Successful 1 Night 2 days visit to Bhumlichok Bhairabi Home Stay in mid

west Nepal.

The team visited Bhumlichok Bhairabi Home Stay and observed and

analyzed socio-economic cultural activities

Carried out an field assessment , and its compliance under home-stay

regulation 2067

News coverage by different national TVs, FMs and different print and online

Medias about the Bhumlichok Bhairabi Home Stay activities.

Collection of photographs and video footage for documentary

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1.6 Visits & Assessments Sites at Bhumlichok, Gorkha:

Bhumlichok is a village development committee of Gorkha District in the

Gandaki Zone of northern-central Nepal with distance of about 95 Km on the way

to Prithvi Highway from Kathmandu, and 105 Km from Pokhara, than need to walk

about 3 to 4 hours to get in Bhumlichok. At the time of the 2011 Nepal census it

had a population of 3,545 and had 685 houses in the town. The study area is located

at the altitude of 287m Fishling at Trishuli River to 1652m elevation at Bhairabi

Tar (Pokharai Tar) from the sea level.

Bhumlichok has diverse culture and religion. Magar are the main inhabitants of

this VDC and Chepang/Praja, Gurung, Newar, Chhetri are also being a part of this

area. So, the area posses varied culture or it can be said that the area is culturally

rich which is also one of the most imperative feature of rural tourism. The existing

culture in Bhumlichok as a product, the people of Bhumlichok can promote them

for tourists international as well as domestic. The temple of Bhairabi, Bhairabi Tar,

Dudh Pokhari are the cultural and historical attraction in Bhumlichok. Like in other

part of the country, Dashain, Tihar, Teej, Mage Sankranti, Janai Purnima, Loshar

celebrate with great rejoice and pleasure. Similarly, other religious festivals such as

Buddha Purima (Chandipurnuma), Bhairavithan Mela etc. are celebrated and

enjoyed. According to the filed visit survey among 80 houses in ward no: 4 and 5,

35 houses have basic fundamental of Home Stay facilities. It is the first home stay

operated in Bhumlichok. Most of the guests visiting the place are found involved in

learning local values and almost all in eye-sighting the rare Salak/ Pangolin. The

guests mostly liked Magar livelihood, cultures and traditions, i.e., hospitality. The

households have improved their skills through cross-cultural exchanges with the

guests.

The home-stays in the Bhumlichok afford guests the opportunity to experience

Nepalese rural life, enjoying wonderful Mahabharat landscapes and significant

Mountains panorama. Some possible activities in the Bhumlichok Village are

exploring the surrounding villages on foot is one of the best ways to experience

rural life in Nepal and absorb the simplicity of a farming community, Cultural

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performances: on village tour, you can enjoy the rhythms of the Madal (musical

instrument), Koda, Chudka/Thado Bhaka/ Jyaure, Lakhe, Ghantu watch the unique

ethnic dances or even join the dancers. People of here use only the freshest and

most delicious local products. If you want you can learn some special recipes. In

the village you can visit Dhami/ Jhakkri (witch doctor). Local shamans: a deeply

rooted belief in shamanism still exists in the village. If you are interested, you can

see the Magar and Chepang Shaman at work and even get cleansed by him.

The Bhumlichok Bhairabi home-stay is in the choice of people as it has

transport facilities as well as has peaceful environment with different types of

culture and there local food items.

Table: 1.3. Infrastructural and Facilities Available

Name of home

stay

No. of

household

operating

home stay

No. of

beds

Facilities No. of

guests

able to

serve

Additional activities

offered and attractions

Bhumlichok

Bhairabi Home

Stay, Gorkha

35 80 Toilet

Bathroom,

Health post

Community

hall

80 Magar cultural dance,

village tour, local Foods,

Bhairabi Tar view point

Visit

1.7 Finding and Recommendations

In a country like Nepal where there has been little infrastructural development,

particularly in the remote rural areas, village/rural tourism has helped to spread

income and enrich the local economy. In Nepalese context rural based tourist or

village tourism leads to the dynamism in tourism industry. It concerns with all

villages of Nepal. Most importantly, tourism in Nepal has been one of the most

important supporting features of Nepalese economy. Therefore, tourism industry

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shall be developed in such a way that the national development and distribution of

income must satisfy all strata of society.

Following findings were found from the visit trip.

All the Home stays uphold cultural diversity in unity

People were innocent, creative, active and hard working

Old historical culture were still preserved and need continuation

Can be developed as popular home stay destination

Can be developed as new secure rural tourist destination

Suitable for both domestic and international tourists

Can be developed as new rural tourism product combining with rafting

activities in Trishuli River.

Located at appropriate distance from Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan.

Recommendation:

Very important to revive and preserve local culture

require food and beverage training and its standardization

Need leadership training to transfer to coming generation

Essential to formulate home stay rule and regulation.

Need to build community information center.

Environmental and sustainable tourism awareness program necessary.

Promotional materials like brochure, documentary and website are required.

People participation is central to the success of sustainable village tourism.

Local community members should be encouraged and closely involved in

the complete cycle of tourism development programs. So, the concerning

agency with tourism should take active part in it.

There is no such official record of tourist visiting Bhumlichok and their

expenditure pattern so there is necessity of those types of office which can

give clearly data concerning tourism.

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It has become too late to prepare a master plan for the proper development

of Bhumlichok, a historically, culturally and artistically important place.

There are no such good Guest House/ Tea House in Bhumlichok, so by

providing some financial assistance and other support from the concerning

body like VDC, DDC and other public sectors should motivated the local

people.

Tourism consists a wide range of services, which constitutes the tourism

product, and a single enterprise cannot provide all services. Therefore,

public - private sectors must be encouraged in the tourism development of

Bhumlichok area.

Moreover infrastructure like toilet and sanitation and accommodation

facilities should be developed in the communities. In this case the VDC

must take a more active role to make funds available to develop the social

infrastructures. VDC should link households unable to invest upgrading the

homes to accommodate visitors to the concessional credit programs made

available through different government programs and from other sectors.

The Tourism Development Plan of Budhi Gandaki Hydroelectric Project

must be address the Bhumlichok for tourism development. According to the

preliminary report, the reservoir of the project, which will be spread over 63

sq km, will be 15 times larger than the Fewa Lake. The lake will be just lap

of the Bhumlichok. (BGHPDC, 2071/72-2). It should be give priority by

NPC also to develop tourism in this area.

1.7.1 Education and Training for Rural Tourism:

One of the major issues in the development of rural tourism is the need for

education and training. It is frequently overlooked because many people having

experienced holidays as consumers, and having been involved in other type of

business, assume that little further knowledge or skill is required to enter the

tourism industry. But tourism is a complex and high professional enterprise;

success rarely comes without considerable expertise. Rural tourism requires

additional and specialized skills.

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Training and education programs in rural tourism should bring a number of

benefits. They should help develop more care and commitment amongst all those

involved. They should help businesses become more effective and profitable, by

encouraging better marketing; organization and co-operative working and helping

gain repeat visit from guests. If any NGO or INGO help the people conducting

tourism training. They should help professional planners and administrators

understand the need to plan rural tourism in a sustainable and profitable way.

Finally, there is the critical but hard to define point that well thought out training

program helps widen horizon, raise standards and create professional and positive

attitudes.

1.7.2 Need to Understand About Related Market:

Without markets, any discussion on rural tourism must remain incomplete. The

size, type, elasticity and demands of the market influence all the issues related to

the tourism. Lacks of the market knowledge and lack of knowledge about how to

relate to markets are common problems for many rural tourism initiatives. They

need to connect with worldwide STN for the sustainable tourism for village

develops. Hence, there need to understand the size, location, characteristics,

perception and requirements of markets. And the need to understand how to relate

to, influence and win markets via marketing campaigns, liaison with travel agents,

travel companies and tour operators.

1.8 Conclusion

In Nepal, tourism is a perennial source of foreign currency earnings and a

means of survival for thousands of people directly and indirectly dependent on this

industry. More recently, tourism has also been a catalyst for community

development and conservation in some remote areas of the country. It is believed

that some of these gains would have been difficult to achieve through other means.

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Village tourism is a common bridge in between domestic tourism and

international tourism industry. In fact, it is an integrated approach on tourism

development. Understandingly, village tourism is a major component of scientific

tourism that creates the self-sustaining and self-standing economy. To view the

nature and complexity, village tourism is a non-foreign aid requiring concept.

Thus, the study is able to show that Bhumlichok Bhairabi Home Stay has basic

infrastructure facilities, which shall be upgraded. It also shows that it has tourism

products to attract tourist in near future. At present the income generation and

employment opportunity from the tourism sector is not so as expected or in other

words having much more potentiality the people of Bhumlichok cannot harness the

opportunity from this sector. So, community involvement and community

cooperation is special feature of rural tourism. It is necessary to make active

participant of all the local people in this sector, it will be better in form of

sustainable tourism. In the course of development tourism brings both positive and

negative impacts within the society but the locals shall minimize the negative one

and boost up the positive reaction. Thus, we can say that Bhumlichok Bhairabi

Home Stay has great scope in the tourism field, which shall be actualized to

increase the level of income of the locals.

Home stay has been gaining popularity in recent times in different rural parts

of Nepal, due to the fact tourists get chance to explore rural life, eat locally grown

foods and involve in village life and enjoy local cultures. The local communities

earn sustainable economy through rural tourism.

However this type of tourism arises multiple effects on rural life and raise

issues of environmental conservation and protection of local cultures and tradition.

It may also disturb local communities and wild life habitat. As per the services and

time provided by the local, the rates are often cheap that might result question mark

for long-term sustainability.

In addition careful planning and consideration should be taken to preserve local

culture, conserve the environment and prices should be maintained to meet all the

costs and benefit the communities. Rural tourism should focus on economic

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building and protect the local cultures and traditions of rural people. Whereas,

tourists should be given good services, healthy foods and comfortable stay and get

satisfaction by visiting the destination. A sound host and guest relationship should

be maintained to minimize pressure on both sides. Good hospitality, behaviors,

clean foods and sanitation has to always focus to make sustainable tourism benefit

on the local communities.

The major attractions of Bhumlichok Bhairabi Home Stay are rich Culture of

Magar, Chepang, Gurung, Newar, typical local houses, traditional dances, local

organic and hygienic foods and their lifestyles.

However more efforts like training, promotion advertisement of the destinations is

much needed. The concern tourism stakeholders like NTB, TAAN, NMA, VITOF-

Nepal, GTEAN and tourism business organizations should join their hands to

promote and develop village tourism joining hands with NMTS (Nepal Magar

Tourism Society).

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1.9 Photos from the Bhumlichok Bharabi Home Stay visit:

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14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

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1.10 Media reports: Nagarik Daily: Published on -24-Dec-2016, Saturday Page no: 8

The Universal Times Weekly: 26-Dec-2016, Monday Page no:3

25

Naya Patrika Daily: Published on -05-Jan-2017, Thursday- Page no: 9

Aalochana National Weekly: Published on -08-Jan-2017, Sunday- Page no: 4

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1.11 Online News about Bhumlichok Bhirabi Home Stay Trip:

http://paryatannews.com/web/2016/12/3403.html ( ,

)

http://magarmedia.com/?p=3820 ( !)

http://alwaystourism.com/2016/12/08/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4

%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8B

-%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%89%E0%A4%81-%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%AC-

%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%81/ ( अ )

http://magarmedia.com/?p=4456 (

( )!

http://atozkhabar.com/2016/12/19/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9

5%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95-

%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B2%

E0%A5%87-%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%82/ (

अ )

http://www.enayapatrika.com/2017/01/117707 (‘ ’)

http://www.imagekhabar.com/news/latest/business/13099

- )

https://www.akhabardainik.com/2016/10/21/45157 ( ’)

Bhumlichok Bhirabi Home Stay Trip Documentary ।

। https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5UMEk5Kc_0 ( Broadcast by Image Channel)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX4bR9ThwBI&feature=youtu.be (Full Documentary by NMTS)

http://www.magartourismsociety.org/bhumlichok-bhairabi-home-stay-trip.html (Bhumlichok Bhirabi

Home Stay Trip Itinerary Details)