Homestay business is empowering locals economically and promote sustainable tourism, Tinau Rural Municipality in Palpa has been actively encouraging the development of homestay businesses across its wards. By promoting community-based tourism, the municipality aims to transform local households into income-generating hospitality units, especially empowering women entrepreneurs.
Homestays as a Tool for Prosperity
The local government has adopted homestays as a strategic tool for achieving prosperity. With the goal of enhancing self-reliance among citizens, the municipality has been providing training, startup capital, and necessary inputs to support homestay businesses. According to the municipal office, special emphasis has been placed on enabling women to run homestays as a means of gaining economic independence.
Chairperson of Tinau Rural Municipality, Prem Shrestha, highlighted that the initiative aligns with the broader vision of attracting domestic and international tourists to all six wards of the municipality. “By promoting homestays, we are not only increasing rural income but also encouraging women’s entrepreneurship and empowering them financially,” said Shrestha.
Skills Training and Capital Support
To ensure the successful implementation of the homestay program, the municipality has been conducting skill development training programs, particularly for women. The training is provided with financial support from Palpa Development Center and the Social Development Division Office.
Participants who complete the training are then supported with starter kits and capital investments necessary for running a functional homestay. “This initiative is not just about providing hospitality training. We also equip locals with agriculture and livestock skills to ensure a sustainable supply chain for food and accommodation services,” Shrestha added.
Seed Distribution for Supporting Local Production
To link tourism with agriculture, the municipality has introduced a unique model that integrates farming with hospitality. Homestay owners are encouraged to use local agricultural products to serve guests. Accordingly, the municipality has distributed livestock and farming equipment to trained residents of Maramkot and Jantilung.
Beneficiaries of local chicken farming training (30 individuals) received 9 local chickens each. Similarly, 28 participants in pig farming training received one piglet each. Goat farming trainees received a goat each, while vegetable farming participants were provided with two greenhouses (tunnels), plastic drums, sprinkler pipes for irrigation, and two units of modern beehives for those trained in beekeeping.
Infrastructure Development for Tourist Accommodation
Infrastructural support has also been provided in areas like Jantilung and Maramkot, where guesthouses have been built to accommodate visitors. Seven guesthouses in Jantilung and two in Maramkot are now operational.
In addition, the municipality is actively promoting seasonal and off-season vegetable farming, poultry farming for meat supply, beekeeping for honey, and animal husbandry to ensure that homestay operators can locally source the items required for hosting guests.
Growing Network of Homestays
Currently, five homes in Maramkot and 12 homes in Jantilung have already started operating as homestays. According to Chairperson Shrestha, the municipality envisions homestays as a way to increase household income through tourism while allowing locals to stay in their own communities.
“This is more than just tourism,” he said. “It’s a model for sustainable rural entrepreneurship, and the municipality is committed to expanding it with training, seed support, and strong community involvement.”
Strategic Partnerships for Tourism Promotion
Tinau Rural Municipality has also partnered with the Lumbini Provincial Government under the Chief Minister’s Innovation Partnership Program to explore the full potential of places like Maramkot and Jantilung. Vice Chairperson Lal Bahadur Thapa emphasized that these areas hold immense tourism potential. “If managed well, families in these regions can earn thousands of rupees monthly through homestay tourism,” he noted.
Scenic Attractions Lure Tourists
According to Chief Administrative Officer Dinesh Saru, Jantilung and Maramkot are naturally beautiful locations where visitors can enjoy views ranging from the Himalayas to the Terai plains. He emphasized that the municipality is committed to continuously supporting tourism-led employment and income generation at the community level.
The breathtaking panoramic views, combined with authentic village life, traditional cuisine, and warm hospitality, have already started attracting tourists seeking a rural escape. “Tourists are increasingly choosing these locations for immersive cultural experiences,” Saru said.
Expansion Plans Underway
Chairperson Shrestha also shared that homestay initiatives have already begun in Ward No. 6 (Masyam), Ward No. 5 (Maramkot), and Ward No. 4 (Satyawati). Meanwhile, women in Ward No. 1 (Kachal), Ward No. 2 (Dovan), and Ward No. 3 (Jhums) are actively preparing to launch homestay services.
Currently, several locals are running homestays and hosting guests. For example, the Jantilung Community Homestay offers a package priced at NPR 1,200 per person, which includes a welcome session, evening snacks, dinner with local chicken meat, and breakfast.
A Vision for Sustainable Rural Tourism
Through its homestay promotion program, Tinau Rural Municipality is laying the foundation for a sustainable, inclusive, and community-led rural tourism model. With continued training, investment, and partnership with higher levels of government, the initiative is expected to generate employment, boost rural income, and help preserve local culture and natural beauty.
As the program expands, Tinau stands as a model for other rural municipalities seeking to harness tourism and agriculture to create vibrant local economies, where communities thrive, women lead, and visitors experience the best of Nepal’s rural charm.
