Kathmandu. A three-day Homestay Management Training has infused new momentum into sustainable rural tourism development in Saipal, Bajhang. The training, conducted in Saipal Rural Municipality–3, Kanda, aims to make both private and community homestays more professional, organized, and sustainable as tourism prospects continue to rise in this remote region.
The program, jointly organized by the Nepal Tourism Board and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the Sustainable Tourism Project (STP), began on Kartik 27. It was conducted in collaboration with Saipal Rural Municipality and Sahara Nepal Bajhang. STP has prioritized the development of the Api-Saipal trekking route, focusing on capacity building, skill enhancement, and sustainable rural tourism promotion.
Leadership Calls for Saipal to Become a Model Rural Destination
Inaugurating the event, Rural Municipality Chairperson Manbir Bohara stressed the need to develop homestays as a “model of sustainable tourism,” envisioning Saipal as a future hub for rural nature-culture tourism. Vice Chair Dolma Tamang, Chief Administrative Officer Sandesh Prasad Joshi, and ward chairs expressed confidence that the training would empower locals toward a self-sufficient and sustainable tourism ecosystem.
A total of 21 participants 11 women and 10 men from Wards 1 to 4 took part. The strong participation of women highlighted the promising potential for women-led rural tourism enterprises.
Training Focus: Hospitality, Local Cuisine, Pricing & Tourist-Friendly Services
Participants were trained in guest reception, presenting local cuisine attractively, setting fair pricing, and making their homes more tourist-friendly.
Trainer Suraj Bastola, Treasurer of Homestay Federation Nepal, instructed participants on:
- Basics of homestay and tourism in Nepal
- Registration criteria and operating procedures
- Roles and responsibilities of homestay operators
- Marketing and promotion
- Sustainability and good governance
- Annual action plan development
The training also clarified mandatory requirements under the Homestay Operation Procedure 2067, such as local government application, structural details, sanitation and safety standards, service listings, and community recommendations. Homestays must maintain transparent pricing and promote local culture, attire, and hygiene standards.
Local Cuisine Gains New Appreciation
Participants expressed curiosity about why tourists enjoy traditional dishes like finger millet biscuits, nettle soup, chia seed porridge, and mixed corn–buckwheat–foxtail millet recipes.
Through practical sessions, they discovered the unique value of local food.
Many participants remarked:
“We started seeing our own food with newfound pride. Tourists genuinely love it.”
This realization, trainers emphasized, is at the heart of a successful homestay — the art of connecting local identity with tourist experiences.
The training also highlighted how balanced economic activity, cultural preservation, and natural conservation form the backbone of sustainable tourism.
Saipal Ready to Welcome Tourists
Chairperson Bohara noted that although Saipal is geographically remote, it is “very close in terms of tourism potential,” and the municipality is ready to welcome visitors. Locals have pledged their support to the initiative. Women who were once confined to household roles are now engaging in homestay management, accounting, pricing, customer service, and annual planning.
One female participant shared:
“We used to think tourists would never come to our village. Now we realize our nature itself can be our source of livelihood.”
Growing Homestay Network Across Nepal
Nepal currently hosts around 7,000 registered and nearly 5,000 unregistered homestays, each serving approximately 250–300 guests annually. These numbers highlight the vast potential of rural tourism nationwide.
With this new training, Saipal has officially joined Nepal’s growing journey toward sustainable rural tourism, opening doors to livelihood opportunities, cultural preservation, and a thriving community-based tourism model.
