Homestays target rural tourism

By Murari Adhikari,Dhading, June 21: Recently, many homestays have come into operation in rural areas of the country with the aim of development and promotion of rural tourism. With the flourishing business, accusations are made that homestays are becoming like hotels in the city. Meanwhile, Gurung Homestay operating in Aambote of Gangajamuna Rural Municipality of North Dhading is promoting local products and serving traditional hospitality. 

Lately, Aambote village with only 16 houses of Gurung community, located 35 km north of Dhadingbesi, the headquarters of Dhading, in Gumdi, has become popular as Gurung Homestay. Rupa Gurung, homestay operator, said village life, hospitality, local food, local culture and cleanliness were the especial features of the homestays operating there. She said that the tourists visiting Aambote could fully enjoy Gurung culture.

Out of 16 houses, nine houses have former security personnel while five houses have current security personnel. Man Bahadur Gurung, homestay operator, said he had practiced the discipline and hard work in the business that he learnt while working in government service. He said that the houses in the village were clean and various kinds of flowers and fruits were planted in the surroundings. Almost every house had trees of Bodhichitta, Rudrakshya, Avocado, Mango, Apple and others, he added. 

He said, "We all make plans together and plant trees accordingly. We serve organic fruits and vegetables and liquor to the guests." He said that they had prohibited selling of liquor from outside the ward. They had also made request to the rural municipality to apply such rules in the entire rural municipality so that the local earnings would not go outside.

According to the homestay operators, they had started homestay business in a sustainable way so that next generation would also be able to make earnings from it. 

Bhakta Bahadur Lama, chairman of the rural municipality, said that the rural municipality had been supporting infrastructure development of homestays in accordance with the policy of connecting the rural municipality with tourism.

Anil Shrestha, chief administrative officer, informed that they had allocated budget for the construction of road infrastructure in winter budget.