TANAHUN, Nov 13: Kaushila Gurung of Tutepani in Tanahun district remains busy these days. After toiling in the field during daytime to harvest paddy, she needs to be ready to welcome guests in the homestay in evening.

Not only Kaushila, most of the locals of Tutepani have the same routine these days.

"This happens to be the harvesting season as well as the peak tourist season. All of us are busy," Kaushila told Republica. "We need to prepare snacks and dinner for tourists in the evening. After dinner, we need to make perform cultural songs and dances to entertain our guests."

Tutepani is a village of Gurung people. Of the 30 households in the village, 16 have homestay facilities. The homestay, which struggled to welcome visitors in the same season last year, is now seeing rise in tourist footfalls.

Hom Bahadur Gurung, chairperson of the homestay management committee, told Republica that the homestay was welcoming 30-50 visitors every week. "Tourist numbers started increasing after the Dashain festival (mid-September)," he added.

Mountain views, natural beauty, culture and tradition of Gurung people and organic food are the major attractions of Tutepani homestay.

The homestay, which lies 24 km away from Tanahun district headquarters Damauli, has already received booking for January. "We have received bookings from two groups," said Hom Bahadur.

As this happens to be the peak tourist season in the country, homestay in rural areas are seen packed with visitors. However, they do not get tourists throughout the year. Also, new homestays get more visitors compared to the old ones.

Bandipur Community Homestay in Bandipur, for example, has seen a drop in tourist arrivals. "We are getting an average of 10 visitors a day. Last year, we welcomed about 40 visitors on a daily basis," Sanumaya Karki of the homestay management committee said. "We see rise in tourist footfalls during weekends."

Dilmaya Rana, president of Bandipur homestay, say visitors might have diverted to other destinations and homestays. "Every village is opening homestay these days. Concerned government agencies are giving permission to start homestay without studying consequences," Dilmaya said. "It is high time these agencies considered factors like distance between homestays and minimum facilities that homestays should have before issuing permission."

Bandipur, a small hilltop town near Dumre, for example has five community homestays. There are altogether 10 homestays in Bandipur Rural Municipality.

Aapshwara Community Homestay, which is promoted by Dalit community of Byas Municipality-13, is seeing a surge in the number of visitors. "We are seeing groups of as many as 40 members. Some groups stay for about a week and return," Resham BK, president of Aapshawara Community Homestay Management Committee, told Republica. The homestay started operation three years ago.

There are community homestays in more than 50 villages of Tanahun. Domestic tourists form major clientele of these homestays.

Shiva Kumar Ale, president of Pathardi Community Homestay in Bhanumati of Bhimad Municipality-9, said homestays lack attractions and infrastructures to attract visitors throughout the year.

Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment, Gandaki Province, has been providing financial assistance to homestays operating in the province. According to Division Forest Office, Tanahun, 47 homestays, which met the guidelines prescribed by the ministry, has received assistance from the ministry.

"We have already distributed Rs 47 million so far. Homestays have received Rs 300,000 to Rs 1.5 million," Assistant Forest Officer Baburam Uprety told Republica.

Homestays have spent the amount to build infrastructures like entrance gate, community building, museum and walk trails, among others.

 
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