Global Community Tourism Network

If you work in the U.S., you probably only have a maximum of 10 paid vacation days every year to scratch your travel itch — so you travel fast. You rush to tick off as many destinations as possible, spending only a day or two in each place and hardly having enough time to take pictures of the important landmarks to post on social media.

Then, when you come back home, you barely feel any different.

If you dream of a different experience that allows you to engage with new places and people in meaningful ways, you might consider slowing down your travels with slow travel. Slow travel encourages spending extended time in one place, stepping away from tourism hotspots, and discovering the true essence of different destinations.

Here are a few reasons slow travel could cure your travel bug and lead to more profound experiences that shape your cultural understanding and identity.

When you spend more time in one place, you are no longer bound by the constraints of itineraries. You can explore off-the-beaten-path locations, learn local customs, and engage with residents beyond the transactional nature of tourism. Whether attending a traditional cooking class in Vietnam or learning about Maasai culture in Tanzania, slow travel facilitates authentic interactions, creating space for travelers to learn from their hosts and for locals to share their stories.

Slow travel encourages you to break bread with locals, explore their kitchens, and savor the stories accompanying each dish. By experiencing life as the locals do, you gain insights into the values, traditions, and history that shape the communities you visit. In contrast, rushed tourism often reduces culture to a mere spectacle, leaving little room for genuine understanding or connection.

With a steady influx of travelers engaging in these experiences, our efforts have significantly empowered local communities, providing financial autonomy to women and strengthening cultural ties between travelers and communities.

The benefits of slow travel extend beyond the traveler’s personal experience; it also plays a crucial role in promoting sustainable tourism. When tourists move quickly from one destination to the next, they often leave behind a trail of environmental degradation, overcrowded landmarks, and communities that have been commodified to cater to fleeting visitors. Slow travel, on the other hand, advocates for a lighter footprint.

One of the core principles of sustainable tourism is reducing the adverse environmental effects of travel. By staying in one place for an extended period, travelers significantly lower their carbon emissions, as they rely less on frequent flights or long drives between locations. Slow travelers are more likely to engage in eco-friendly activities like biking, walking, or using public transportation. This approach reduces pollution and helps protect natural resources. Additionally, slow travel often encourages participation in conservation efforts and educational experiences that foster a deeper appreciation for the environment.

Learning to spend money according to one’s values is essential for making a meaningful impact, especially when traveling. When you take the time to align your purchasing decisions with your values, you contribute to the well-being of the communities you visit. Slow travelers often find that by supporting local artisans, dining at locally owned restaurants, and staying in eco-conscious accommodations, they can foster a deeper connection with the culture and people of the destination.

Ethical spending allows you to engage with a destination in a way that respects its cultural heritage and environment. Rather than fueling mass tourism’s fast-paced, exploitative nature, you can make choices that uplift local businesses and communities. By doing so, you not only leave a positive impact on the places you visit but also create lasting memories and relationships.

Slow travel offers more than just a respite from the rush of modern life. It provides an avenue for meaningful cultural exchange, sustainable tourism, and ethical spending. By immersing yourself in the rhythms of local life, you can connect with people in ways that rushed tourism simply cannot achieve. Slow travel fosters a deeper understanding of the world, allowing you to appreciate the richness of diverse cultures, the beauty of different landscapes, and the resilience of local communities.

So, the next time you plan a trip, consider slowing down and truly engaging with the places and people you visit. Stay for longer than one day and night; make one destination your home for your entire trip. While you’re there, talk to members of the community around you, eat their food, learn their language, and see the place as the locals do. Then, when you go back home, you will feel something new.

About the author:

Katie Brenneman is a passionate writer specializing in lifestyle, mental health, education, and sustainability-related content. When she isn’t writing, you can find her with her nose buried in a book or hiking with her dog, Charlie. To connect with Katie, you can follow her on Twitter.

During the Fireside Chat at GX India 2024, Tony Wheeler, the visionary co-founder of Lonely Planet, made a powerful point: no country is inherently dangerous. It’s not about avoiding places but connecting with the destinations you visit. 

The event, brilliantly organized by G Adventures and powered by Planeterra, served as a testament to this idea. Wheeler shone a spotlight on lesser-known destinations like Chad and Sudan, recommending them for the remarkable, often untold experiences they offer. 

His insights reminded many of us present there that the stories we typically hear about these countries, especially in the Global South, framed by danger, poverty, or instability, only present part of the picture. Community tourism aims to change that narrative, revealing the true pulse of a destination through its culture and people. It emphasizes the richness, resilience, and humanity that define these regions. Wheeler’s reflections encouraged us all to rethink our perceptions of the world.

Reflecting on my own journey, I realize that my childhood travel experiences significantly shaped my perspective on culture and community. Growing up, we moved frequently across Asia, following my father’s work in community initiatives. Living in places like Mongolia and the rural Chin State in Myanmar, along with my travels across Nepal exposed me to the beauty of cultural diversity. 

While my father’s commitment to development inspired me, it was my mother’s passion for local languages, food, and social fabrics that left a lasting impression. Her ability to turn every new place into a home; speaking local dialects with market vendors or blending local ingredients with our family recipes instilled in me the understanding that home is not tied to a single location. It’s a feeling you carry within you, found in shared smiles, warm conversations, and bonds that go beyond borders. 

As I grew older, my love for travel deepened into a calling. My academic background in Development Studies took me to various parts of Nepal, where I gained insights into the country’s rich cultural complexities and diverse geography. I learned that development isn’t just about top-down projects; it’s about building local ownership and fostering entrepreneurship. 

Given Nepal’s rich natural and cultural diversity, along with the vital role tourism plays in the economy, it is essential to discuss the kind of tourism we want to promote for a sustainable future. As the CEO of the Community Homestay Network (CHN), I believe we are well-positioned to leverage our partnerships with local communities, impact partners, and tourism stakeholders to advocate for community tourism as the norm in the travel industry, rather than merely a niche segment. 

We are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with communities and strategic partners like Planeterra to build, strengthen, and promote tourism products that benefit both travelers and locals. By developing locally owned tourism initiatives, providing training, and creating market linkages, we work closely with communities to establish resilient ecosystems.

At CHN, we firmly believe that community tourism can be a transformative tool for sustainable development, not just in niche markets but across the entire industry. Our partnership with Planeterra has been crucial in helping us move beyond viewing communities as mere beneficiaries. Instead, we examine the socio-economic and environmental costs they bear. 

Last year alone, Planeterra significantly contributed to co-organizing initiatives such as the Community Haat Bazaar and supported the creation of community-led experiences in Nepal, including a women-led Momo cooking class in Kirtipur and Breakfast at Sharing Seeds in Pokhara.

With a steady influx of travelers engaging in these experiences, our efforts have significantly empowered local communities, providing financial autonomy to women and strengthening cultural ties between travelers and communities.

Similarly, during the Planeterra Marketplace at GX India, I was able to witness the power of community tourism beyond my direct experience of working with communities in Nepal. 

Nine communities from across India came together to offer immersive experiences, showcasing how travelers can engage in meaningful, hands-on activities that reveal deeper impacts on the communities involved. 

A standout experience was block printing with Anoothi India, an organization that trains women in traditional Indian textile skills.

Historically, block printing has been a male-dominated craft in India, but Anoothi is challenging this norm by empowering women to master the trade. The textiles they produce emphasize ethical practices and environmental consciousness.

Hearing the stories of these women, who defy societal expectations to excel in a craft traditionally reserved for men, was incredibly inspiring.

It highlighted how community tourism transcends financial benefits; it strengthens empowerment, challenges gender roles, and transforms lives in profound ways, creating intergenerational ripple effects.

It is crucial for us to rethink how tourism is presented and the narratives we promote. As Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie powerfully articulated, “Stories have been used to dispossess and malign, but they can also be used to empower and humanize.” Reflecting on Adichie’s TED Talk, “The Danger of a Single Story” I recognize how narratives shape perceptions. 

In the travel industry, we must be cautious about the stories we create about communities. Tourism often serves as one of the largest sources of information people have about a country, offering a unique window into its soul, which comes with great responsibility. 

Too often, Nepal is portrayed as a country in need of saving or a poor but kind nation where travelers arrive with a savior mentality. Many visitors participate in Tharu cultural experiences yet engage superficially, settling for just the performances that don’t convey the full story of this vibrant culture. These oversimplified versions of community life can do more harm than good. We must ensure that tourism reflects the full complexity of the places and people it engages with.

Community tourism can challenge the single story by going beyond traditional tourism models and deeply engaging travelers with local cultures. It requires a meaningful approach that emphasizes local participation in tourism development and management, ensuring that economic benefits directly support sustainable livelihoods and cultural preservation efforts. Community tourism is not confined to remote areas; it can thrive in urban settings like Kathmandu and Pokhara, where travelers can engage with diverse cultural experiences. Providers have the opportunity to share their heritage and cultural identity in ways that extend beyond mere entertainment or lodging.

The Role of Tourism in Fostering Understanding: As we recently celebrated World Tourism Day with the theme of “Tourism and Peace,” attending GX India on the same day highlighted the significant role tourism plays in fostering understanding, breaking down barriers, and building bridges between cultures.

My travels across Nepal and Asia have reinforced the idea that cultural contexts are nuanced, and no single story defines any place. 

While developed nations like the United States grapple with issues like gun violence, they also have the privilege of sharing multiple narratives. In contrast, countries like Nepal or India often find themselves limited by oversimplified or romanticized stories in global media. Yet community tourism provides an opportunity to reshape these narratives.

Moreover, community tourism is about more than just boosting numbers; it’s about building confidence and driving meaningful change. Some key takeaways from GX India that we, as travel industry professionals and travelers, must reflect on include the crucial role community tourism plays in empowering women, addressing climate biodiversity, and unlocking the tourism industry’s untapped potential. 

The discussions highlighted the importance of partnerships and resources in ensuring that communities remain at the heart of these destinations, where travelers may visit briefly but leave a lasting impact.

Working alongside remarkable communities and organizations has strengthened our belief that this community-centered narrative in tourism offers a path to break free from outdated perceptions, creating a richer, more diverse story. This is how we break the mold by shifting narratives and showcasing the strength, resilience, and beauty of communities, one story at a time.    

About the author:

As the CEO of Community Homestay Network (CHN), Aayusha Prasain is working towards strengthening the organization while streamlining and scaling the impact of tourism across communities. Along with her team at CHN, she also works towards bringing local actors into the tourism value chain and promoting responsible and inclusive tourism. 

Visit www.communityhomestay.com to learn more about CHN’s work.

Tracing the journey from conception to realization, the Community Homestay Network and Planeterra recently joined forces to unite Global Community Tourism Network (GCTN) Nepal partners in a dynamic marketplace. Hear our story of how we turned an idea into a reality, along with the key takeaways and lessons learned from the event.

Established by Planeterra during the pandemic, the Global Community Tourism Network (GCTN) stands as a beacon of support for community tourism enterprises worldwide, actively dismantling barriers in the tourism marketplace. Through engaging activities like offering access to enriching online learning opportunities, fostering global connections among like-minded peers, and championing partnerships for increased visibility and sustainability, the GCTN is empowering community tourism enterprises to reach new heights. The emphasis here is on growth, learning, and collaboration—key ingredients for transforming dreams into reality.

As an active supporter of community tourism, Planeterra has been working together with the Community Homestay Network to support various community tourism enterprises and initiatives in Nepal. The objective of this partnership is to strengthen community tourism in Nepal by providing funding and knowledge-sharing sessions by bringing them under the GCTN partner network. The Community Haat Bazaar was one such initiative.

In the wake of the Planeterra team’s visit to Nepal for the First in-person meet of the GCTN, an interesting idea surfaced—to unite local members of the network under a common platform to showcase the local and traditional arts, products, and experiences—the notion aimed at fostering economic growth and providing extensive networking opportunities through organized events.

Subsequently, a series of monthly meetings unfolded between key stakeholders from the Community Homestay Network (CHN) and Priyanka Singh, Community Tourism Project Manager for Asia-Pacific at Planeterra. These discussions explored crucial considerations such as the nature of the event — whether it should be exclusive to GCTN Nepal partners or include other entities engaging in community tourism, budgeting considerations with potential assistance from Planeterra, and meticulous planning regarding when and where the event could take place. 

The collaboration between CHN and Planeterra emerged as a powerful synergy, with CHN as the organizing force and Planeterra contributing essential knowledge and resources to ensure the success of this community-building initiative. Together, we envisioned an event and a catalyst for sustainable growth and meaningful connections within the global community.

Long-term partnerships are the cornerstone of the sustainability of any event or project. By providing a stable foundation, these collaborations ensure consistency, effective resource utilization, and shared commitment to common goals. The gradual development of trust and rapport facilitates open communication and problem-solving, essential for overcoming challenges. Long-term partnerships also promote a continuous learning mindset, allowing collaborators to adapt and improve together over time. The sense of community fostered by long-term collaborations extends to stakeholders, creating a supportive ecosystem.

Members of GCTN Nepal partners share common goals that revolve around promoting sustainable development, preserving cultural heritage, and fostering positive socio-economic impacts. These shared goals reflect the commitment of community tourism enterprises to creating positive, sustainable, and culturally enriching tourism experiences for both visitors and local communities. Keeping these things in mind, the collaboration between CHN and Planeterra was initiated to foster the relationship between the GCTN Nepal partners; building a sense of community among collaborators. This not only includes the immediate partners but also extends to stakeholders and the broader community.

Before the conceptualization of the Community Haat Bazaar, we have also been organizing routine meet-ups (virtually) between our network partners to discuss how we can move forward with this collaboration. The Community Haat Bazaar was one such conception initiated to support our partner network members.

The Community Haat Bazaar is a traditional open-air market aimed to bring the GCTN Nepal partners together and allow them to showcase their art and cultural commodities. This event serves as a multifaceted platform, bringing together community members, promoting local artisans and businesses, and creating a dynamic social and economic hub. 

The primary objective of the Community Haat Bazaar is to cultivate a sense of community among our community homestay members and visitors while providing economic growth opportunities to our network partners. The event was strategically designed to showcase and support local businesses. The market stalls featured an array of products, including handmade crafts, clothing, jewelry, and fresh produce, inviting local artisans, craftsmen, farmers, and entrepreneurs to display and sell their offerings.

In addition to the market aspect, the Community Haat Bazaar offers enriching experiences through workshops and interactive sessions. These sessions aim to educate participants on various cultural topics, such as the unique Ranjana Lipi script and the intricate Mithila Art. Beyond the economic boost, the event emphasizes community engagement and the creation of a vibrant social space.

Following the conceptualization phase, we initiated collaborative efforts with our event partner, Planeterra. While CHN took the initiative to organize and manage the event, Planeterra provided funding and guidance for setting up the event. Furthermore, AVATA Wellness Centre provided the event venue in Baluwatar, Kathmandu. 

The Haat Bazaar was primarily marketed to the expat community, along with some of the key stakeholders of the travel industry. We wanted to expose our GCTN Nepal partners’ products and services to potential travellers and travel agents while creating a platform for the participants and an opportunity to network and connect with the visitors.

Collaborative promotional efforts besides promoting the event on digital platforms were also undertaken to amplify the reach of the event. With a common goal to promote tourism as a force of good, our sister entities from Royal Mountain Group of Companies played a crucial part in promoting the event. The same thing goes for the supporters of our co-organizing entity – Planeterra.

It was amazing to witness the synergy demonstrated by all these stakeholders involved in the promotion of the event, which shows that a well-planned communication strategy can work wonders when executed properly. A total of 8 organizations, including AVATA – our venue partner, participated in setting up a kiosk for the Community Haat Bazaar.

The fruition of all these efforts was reflected during the day of the event. All stakeholders involved were fully engaged throughout the entirety of the event. The venue; AVATA, witnessed a notable turnout of visitors that met our expectations, leading to an engaging event where people were busy exploring and involving themselves in the various local products and experiences provided by our enthusiastic partners. New connections were made along with the rejuvenation of existing partnerships. 

Notably, international travellers and expats came to the event, a testament to the success of our marketing efforts. In addition to that, other communities were invited to observe the Community Haat Bazaar, contributing to the event’s inclusive atmosphere. The day concluded with a feedback and reflection session, providing participants with an opportunity to share insights and experiences from this vibrant community-driven gathering.

After the success of the first edition, we are hopeful that this would be a good and replicable model to show what goes behind planning an event and how one can truly support community-based events to garner a wide audience resulting in success.

In reflection, the Community Haat Bazaar not only served as a vibrant marketplace but also offered invaluable insights and learnings. The event highlighted a strategic shift in our approach, emphasizing the importance of expanding our reach to customer-centric audiences rather than exclusively focusing on business partners. The sense of belonging experienced by GCTN Nepal Partners’ community members showed the significance of such gatherings, providing not just economic opportunities but also fostering a deeper connection within the community.

Some pictures of the event, courtesy of Community Homestay Network:

The seamless orchestration by the CHN team, coupled with the active involvement of Planeterra partners and GCTN members, emerged as pivotal factors in the event’s success.

Looking forward, the importance of pre-scheduled communication with supporting partners and clear expectation management for participants became evident, emphasizing the need for meticulous planning in future endeavours.

The event not only marked a celebration of culture but also laid the foundation for continued community empowerment and sustainable growth.

About the authors:

Sazza K.C. and Rubik Joshi are two dedicated team members of the Community Homestay Network (CHN), a social enterprise that supports a network of community homestays in Nepal. Sazza works as a Product Development Expert, while Rubik is their Social Media Manager.

CHN is one of our Strategic Partners in Nepal with whom Planeterra has joined forces to support the members of our Global Community Tourism Network.

By practicing responsible travel, individuals can contribute to sustainable development, foster cross-cultural understanding, and leave a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy. However, with the looming threat of climate change, having a better sustainable future for the next generations seems uncertain. 

Nevertheless, it is just not enough to be uncertain, having an action to mitigate it is very important. When we encounter terms like climate action and biodiversity crisis, we often come across complex concepts that may be challenging for the general public to comprehend. However, it is crucial for everyone to understand and address climate action since it is a shared responsibility that affects each and every one of us. 

In an effort to promote community tourism and address pressing environmental issues, Planeterra, a pioneer in community tourism, organized a peer-to-peer learning workshop for its Nepal partners.

The workshop aimed to facilitate discussions on climate action, the biodiversity crisis, and the importance of local solutions. As part of its commitment to supporting community tourism enterprises, Planeterra established the Global Community Tourism Network (GCTN) during the pandemic, with the goal of breaking down barriers in the tourism marketplace and enhancing the capacity, quality, and accessibility of community tourism worldwide.

Recognizing that addressing climate action requires collective efforts, we, Community Homestay Network (CHN) as a strategic partner of the GCTN here in Nepal joined forces to co-plan and co-execute the workshop, held on June 27, 2023.

The session aimed to foster engagement and knowledge-sharing among various stakeholders in Nepal, while promoting best practices in community tourism and addressing the urgent challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss.

During the session, participants from different community-based tourism enterprises such as Social Tours, Hands on Institute, Girls Empowered by Travel, Nagarkot Community Homestay, Kirtipur Community Homestay, Panauti Community Homestay and Panuati Bike Station had the opportunity to learn and share about successful models of community-based tourism. They delved into topics such as how to effectively run a community-based tourism experience and understand its wide-ranging impacts and ripple effects.

The discussion emphasized the role of community tourism in addressing the ongoing climate action and biodiversity crisis. By adopting sustainable practices, community tourism can become a catalyst for positive change, promoting responsible travel and mitigating environmental impacts.

The discussion was further facilitated by a collaborative learning and problem-solving process where participants were engaged in a workshop. The workshop also explored the role of the GCTN in mitigating these challenges.

By fostering engagement and providing a platform for knowledge-sharing, the GCTN can contribute to the growth and sustainability of responsible and ethical travel. The partnership between the GCTN and CHN presents an exciting opportunity to harness the power of community-based tourism in addressing the ways to build responsible travel and work on climate action and biodiversity crisis.

Through meaningful engagement and the sharing of best practices, this collaboration aims to promote responsible and sustainable tourism models that benefit local communities and the environment.

The session served as a crucial step towards a more responsible and inclusive tourism industry, where community-based initiatives hold significant importance in shaping a positive future for both travelers and local communities.

The best practices for reducing single-use plastics were shared by the communities while the importance of switching to renewable sources of energy was also discussed. The discussions highlighted that these changes not only contribute to making one destination cleaner and greener but also raise awareness among travelers, encouraging responsible behavior in other locations.

The dynamic conversations and collaborative atmosphere allowed all partners to connect and establish relationships for future joint collaborations. As an organization committed to providing community-based tourism experiences that directly benefit local communities through homestays, this platform provided a valuable opportunity for us to exchange ideas with like-minded initiatives and organizations.

We anticipate that this gathering will foster long-term collaboration and contribute to the promotion of responsible tourism practices in Nepal.

About the author:

As the CEO of Community Homestay Network (CHN), Aayusha is working towards strengthening the organization while streamlining and scaling the impact of tourism across communities. Along with her team at CHN, she also works towards bringing local actors into the tourism value chain and promoting responsible and inclusive tourism. 

Visit www.communityhomestay.com to learn more about CHN’s work.

One option to do so can be found in Sarangkot Pandeli the beautiful village near the tourism capital of Nepal, Pokhara City which is a gateway to the world-famous Annapurna conservation region.  

Sarangkot, a small village close to Pokhara, Nepal, is known for its beautiful sunsets and the view over Pokhara and Phewa Lake. However, if you look beyond the well-known sights and mainstream tourist spots, you can learn much more about the community, culture and the production of local products. 

Explore Evenmore Tour and Travels, in partnership with not-for-profit Sharing Seeds, aims to promote sustainable tourism in this area by focusing on guiding visitors off the mainstream routes and towards the local communities.

Knowing what is best for the community, Aabiskar Thapa, Founder and Managing Director of  Sharing Seeds, and his team run three projects that concentrate on the production of local products, like coffee and honey and work to help women gain independence in their communities. 

More information on some of Sharing Seeds’ Projects:

Organic Arabica Coffee Farming Project: 

• Goal: Sustainable, local production of coffee; creating job opportunities 
• How: Providing training and support to local farmers in coffee production 
• Progress: 600 coffee tree plantations have already been planted in cooperation with 95 farmers

Recyclable Handicraft Project: 

• Goal To empower local women to achieve financial independence
• How: Providing basic sewing training for women
• Progress: 40 women have already been trained through the program 

Organic Bee Farming Project:

• Goal: Sustainable honey production 
• How: Explain the importance of the role of bees to farmers   
• Progress: 70 bee hives have been installed in cooperation with 5 bee farmers

To sum up, Explore Evenmore Tour and Travels, in collaboration with Sharing Seeds,  offers a unique experience to visitors while raising awareness about the local culture, food and products and the importance of maintaining them. 

There is also added value for the community through the exchange of knowledge with the tourists which helps contribute to sustainable development in Nepal.

About Sharing Seeds:

Sharing Seeds is a not-for-profit social enterprise whose mission is to empower local farmers by providing knowledge and resources to cultivate organic Arabica coffee and practice organic beekeeping.

Visit https://sharingseed.org/ to learn more about their inspiring work.