At the Community Homestay Network (CHN), every community and product that becomes part of our platform goes through a thoughtful and detailed journey. From concept to listing on our website, these experiences are meticulously co-created by our dedicated teams in close collaboration with local communities. This process, often spanning anywhere from three months to a year, depends on the community's existing exposure to the tourism sector.
Our work begins with identifying potential communities and experience providers. This happens in one of two ways: either a community proactively expresses interest in joining CHN, or CHN identifies a community with significant tourism potential.
Once identified, we conduct a comprehensive baseline assessment to understand the needs, aspirations, and resources of the community. This step involves interacting with community leaders, hosting group discussions, and observing local dynamics. If the community is aligned with the vision and willing to move forward, the real collaboration begins.
Building Capacity Through Collaboration
A key principle of our approach is ensuring that communities actively lead the process of turning their unique cultural identity into meaningful traveller experiences. Whether it's traditional script writing or cooking a signature dish, local community members take center stage in the creation and representation of these offerings. This collaborative planning not only ensures authenticity but also strengthens a sense of ownership and pride among community members.
For new members, we try to facilitate peer-to-peer learning opportunities by connecting them with experienced homestay communities. Training programs prepare them to host travelers, while ongoing consultations provide additional support. From the first baseline assessment to the final product, our entire team; spanning product development, marketing, and sales works hand in hand to design, promote, and sell these experiences.
Dhankuta: A Case Study in Responsible Tourism
Dhankuta serves as a strong example of our collaborative planning process. Historically significant as an old trade route and administrative hub, Dhankuta is relatively new to the tourism landscape. Through a pilot project supported by HIGRID-ICIMOD and Dhankuta Municipality, we have co-developed a range of tourism products and experiences that offer travelers an authentic glimpse into local life, traditions, and culture.
These initiatives not only provide enriching experiences but also address pressing challenges like climate change, integrating global support for local climate action. Over three years of continuous engagement in Dhankuta, our team has collaborated with local stakeholders to design diverse offerings. Many activities are centered around community homestays, while others go beyond to enhance the length of a traveler’s stay.
For example, the “Dress Like a Local” session in Khambela invites visitors to don traditional attire and learn about its cultural significance. Similarly, a farm-to-table brunch at Kachide Community Homestay showcases local flavours, giving a strong sense of togetherness and offering insights into traditional farming practices.
Guests can also explore unique attractions such as Cholung Park, the Tea Garden, and the Old Town Heritage Walk. For nature enthusiasts, excursions to sites like Dhoje Danda and the Chuliban-Khambela hiking trails provide opportunities to enjoy breathtaking landscapes while learning about water-smart solutions and sustainable practices.
These thoughtfully curated experiences blend cultural richness with environmental stewardship, offering travelers an unforgettable journey that also contributes to the resilience and well-being of local communities.
These offerings are the result of extensive capacity-building programs, input from ICIMOD, Dhankuta Municipality, collaborative organizations and NGOs, and feedback gathered during exposure visits. Our product development team worked closely with the community, gathering stories to highlight on our platform and ensuring every element reflected the local identity.
Meanwhile, the external consultation on business incubation training led by CUE helped establish a pricing model that ensures sustainable income for hosts and experience providers (in Dhankuta) while maintaining accessibility and quality for travelers. When we add a community tourism experience to our network via our website, our goal is to create a platform that empowers communities to showcase their unique identity, share their stories, generate job opportunities, and establish sustainable income streams.
A Cross-Team Effort
The development of our experiences is a collaborative effort across CHN’s teams. While the product development team takes on the large responsibility of community engagement, baseline assessments, and story collection, our marketing team ensures these experiences reach a global audience.
In the case of Dhankuta, our sales and marketing teams recently visited the destination to gain firsthand insight into the products. This allowed them to provide constructive feedback to the community and the product development team, ensuring the final offering met both traveler expectations and community aspirations.
Our collaborations extend beyond CHN. By working with national and international travel agencies, writers, impact partners, and journalists, we amplify the visibility of lesser-known destinations. Each experience on our website represents months of teamwork, trust-building, and shared passion between CHN and the communities we work with.
Designing Experiences That Matter
At CHN, curating community tourism experiences goes far beyond crafting itineraries. Every product we develop, market, and sell reflects the collaborative spirit between our team and the communities we support. Dhankuta is just one example of how we work hand-in-hand to develop a tourism product, provide essential support and capacity-building, market it responsibly, and ultimately share it with the world.
When you choose to travel with us, you’re not just visiting a destination; you’re becoming part of a journey that values sustainability, inclusivity, collaboration, and safeguarding cultural heritage. Explore the experiences on our website and discover the beauty of travel that goes beyond sightseeing, building meaningful connections, and having a positive impact.
