Community Connect travel itinerary concludes with address by CHN

KATHMANDU: The travel itinerary curated by Community Connect concluded today with an address to participants organised by Community Homestay Network (CHN).

The project took international travel experts, media experts, content creators, travel agents, journalists and adventurers through challenging hiking trails in Narchyang and Hemjakot, placed them within the unique architecture of Janakpur and engaged them with the arts and crafts available in Kathmandu for a week-long showcase of Nepali experiences. CHN partnered with Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and Australian Aid to give guests an authentic experience by housing travellers within local Tharu and Kirtipur communities.

NTB CEO Deepak Raj Joshi commended the success of Community Connect 2025 and encouraged representatives from international travel agencies and journalists to take stories of their participation in Nepali tourism beyond our borders. Shiva Dhakal, Managing Director of Royal Mountain Group, said the travel itinerary was designed to uplift local communities, connect different cultures and safeguard longstanding tradition.

The event featured a series of panel discussions. The first panel, moderated by CHN CEO Aayusha Prasain and titled “Mainstreaming Community Tourism for a Resilient and Inclusive Future”, saw Anu Kumari Lama, Tourism Specialist at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), explore the charm of Nepali destinations based on weather and the future of tourism hinging on climate-sensitive initiatives. Priyanka Singh, Regional Manager at Planeterra Foundation, encouraged engagement in community travel experiences where guests receive a holistic experience during their stay, while Shradha Shrestha, Senior Manager, Tourism Marketing and Promotion at NTB, discussed policies, private sector investment and NTB strategies to polish standards in homestay and hotel experience for tourists.

The second panel, “Decommodifying the Narrative: Rethinking Media’s Role in Tourism Story”, was moderated by Rubik Joshi, Marketing Lead at CHN. Panelists Becki Enright, travel writer, guidebook author and copywriter; Stephanie Hays, travel consultant and content creator for Fora Travels; and Pooja Naik, independent journalist, discussed their experience in shaping community-centric stories.

The final panel, titled “Community Sharing Session: Voices from the Ground”, was composed of hosts who have opened their homes to tourists in Nepal. Moderated by Bikal Khanal, Chief Purpose Officer of Royal Mountain Group, homestay hosts Lila Bhattarai of Mai Pokhari Homestay, Basanti Rana of Rana Tharu Community Homestay, Suraj Bastola of Nagarkot Community Homestay and Nabin Rai of Khambela Community Homestay shared the impact of tourism on their communities, instigating interactive activities for tourists and integrating the presence of tourists into their daily routines. Bhattarai and Bastola commented on the conservation of norms and lifestyle improvements for local communities driven by families catering for tourists at their homes, while Rana and Rai shared their personal evolution brought about by their involvement in the tourism industry.

CHN operates in 50 communities that served over 7,000 tourists last year. Poonam Gupta Shrestha, COO of CHN, closed the event and thanked participants and the communities that made this experience in Nepal possible.

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