Community Connect: Building Partnership For Community Tourism

My colleague and I recently took a preparatory trip to Dhankuta, laying the groundwork for our upcoming exposure visit, Community Connect. Situated amidst the beautiful landscapes of the Nibuwa Tankhwa Watershed Area (NTWA) in the Lower Koshi River Basin (LKRB), Dhankuta stands as a hidden gem of Eastern Nepal. Its natural beauty and rich cultural tapestry, woven by indigenous communities, ancient trades, and traditions, cast an irresistible spell on every visitor.

Dhankuta grapples with climate change vulnerabilities despite its allure, particularly concerning ‘too little’ water conditions. In response, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) launched a pilot intervention to build Dhankuta as a responsible destination, integrated into watershed management respecting the delicate ecological balance of the NTWA while honoring the cultural heritage of the Aathpahariya community.

This endeavor has brought together various stakeholders, including Dhankuta Municipality, Chhathar Jorpati Rural Municipality, Community Homestay Network (CHN), Smart Paani, Human Rights Social Awareness and Development Center (HUSADEC), and local communities. Together, we strive to transform Dhankuta into a climate-resilient destination by promoting water-smart, responsible tourism as an alternative livelihood, especially for women and indigenous peoples, safeguarding against water scarcity.

In addition to Dhankuta as a destination, this exposure visit aims to showcase and elevate the rich tapestry of culture, traditions, and landscapes across different regions of Nepal. As we truly believe in the importance of community tourism, we see Nepal as a frontrunner to offer a diverse experience. 

Moreover, in parallel, we are curating three additional trips celebrating Tharu cultural diversity. The participants will immerse themselves in the culture and tradition of Bhada, Bardiya, and Barauli. We also offer an alternative to the mainstream trek itinerary to the Annapurna Base Camp, where you would explore a pristine village called Narchyang. In another trip, we provide a unique perspective on Kathmandu and its surroundings.

As an organization trying to promote Community Tourism (CT), we are aware of our responsibilities. Promoting a destination, especially the off-beat paths and the new ones, is our priority. We understand and need to be careful about the ways we promote a destination.

Through CT, we want to expand the horizons of the Nepalese tourism industry, position ourselves as problem-solvers regarding overtourism, preserve the destination’s culture and tradition, and create job opportunities, among other things. We truly believe local communities should have a space to voice their concerns and become powerful stakeholders within the tourism industry. 

However, we would not have been able to design and highlight each destination’s uniqueness if we had done it alone. The trip design process was only possible with our community members’ valuable feedback and suggestions.

In addition to that, our partners like Planeterra and USAID T&C have also played a crucial role in empowering local entrepreneurship through skill-building initiatives and enhancing our marketing strategies to promote community tourism.

Furthermore, our business partners and sister concerns like Royal Mountain Travel, Traditional Comfort, Traditional Stay, Bricks Cafe, and Avata Wellness are integral to planning such trips on a massive scale, where we are planning to host around 20 journalists/media personalities and 11 travel industry professionals. Their involvement is vital for the execution of the scheduled trips. Following our exposure visit, we are confident that our business partners/industry professionals will recognize the immense value of these products and experiences, further enhancing their commitment to our shared vision.