The Community Homestay Network has been set up to bring tourism to Nepal responsibly and sustainably, and to help build an entrepreneurial journey for the local communities we work with, significantly benefitting the women, youths, and marginalised communities while safeguarding the local culture and tradition. 

How Does Community Homestay Work with The Local Communities?

The Community Homestay Network (CHN) promotes responsible community tourism in Nepal, collaborating with communities to co-create tourism offerings to build and support their entrepreneurial journey, particularly for women, youth, and marginalised groups, while safeguarding their culture and traditions. CHN dedicates its efforts to strengthening the economic benefits through community homestays and related experiences to the communities in its network. We encourage women to take the lead in managing tourism activities via homestays and gain financial independence, confidence, and new skills.  This initiative fosters social and community development, enhances cultural exchange, and creates mutual benefits for travellers and hosts. By collaborating with the communities and various impact partners, CHN helps women break biases and engage in economic activities, leading to greater social empowerment and cultural awareness. We continually engage with local communities through practical and innovative training programs to build their capacity for tourism and hospitality. Tailored training packages, developed in close coordination with community members, cover key areas such as social media and digital marketing, hospitality, basics of tourism, sustainable practices, gender equality and inclusion, child protection, and animal welfare policies. This comprehensive training helps women effectively interact with guests, exchange ideas and culture, and manage tourism activities, ensuring communities are well-equipped to offer authentic and responsible tourism experiences.

Impact Story

Poonam Gupta Shrestha, a trailblazer in community tourism, began her journey assisting her mother, a homestay host of one of CHN’s first community homestay initiatives in Panauti.  As local women, including her mother, welcomed travelers, Poonam stepped in as a translator, bridging language gaps and helping the women gain confidence with English. During her bachelor days, she saw the scope of tourism as a tool for sustainable development. She guided guests through Panauti, sharing its culture and spirit—igniting her passion for tourism’s potential.

That spark grew into a remarkable journey. Starting as CHN’s first Community Coordinator, Poonam rose to Impact Manager and now serves as the company’s Chief Operating Officer. Today, she leads with a vision shaped by her roots, driving CHN to create sustainable tourism that empowers Nepal’s communities. “It’s not just about travel,” she says. “It’s about patience, sensitivity, and truly collaborating with locals.” Her leadership reflects this ethos, inspiring her team to forge deep, meaningful partnerships that uplift families like hers.

Poonam’s impact is personal. She’s seen tourism transform her own community—bringing income, pride, and opportunity. This fuels her mission to expand CHN’s reach, ensuring tourism preserves cultures and benefits locals as much as travelers. With her team, she’s building a future where tourism is a force for good, one community at a time.

Our Impact

Impact Roadmap