Located in Panauti – the historic town of Newari Nepal – is a community homestay run by 15 women from different families.
For 14 years, Panoti Community Homestay It has received countless tourists from all over the world. Together, they have also created opportunities for Nepali women and youth, generating income for community development across Panauti.
Ashish Gupta’s mother is one of the founders of this homestay. She said what started out as an initiative to empower women has grown into a meaningful and successful community project.
In 2012, seven women, including Gupta’s mother, put forward a proposal: G Adventures and planet Provide support to homestay families and bring visitors to Panoti to experience local life.
“They accepted our proposal. From then on, the whole thing was history. It became one of the most powerful women-led programs and one of the first female-led homestays in Nepal.” Gupta explained.
They had the courage to open a homestay at the time, which was a big step forward, he said, noting that the women had faced social criticism for breaking away from the traditional role of housewives.
“They said, ‘We want to showcase our culture, our history and our way of life.’ At the same time, they want their own independence, they make money for themselves, but they also want to do it for their community,” he said.
Gupta was 18 when the homestay opened, and he began helping his mother as a Nepali-to-English translator.
Together with his three sisters, he strives to communicate and share stories about Nepal’s history and heritage with travelers. As a family unit, they support homestay development whenever they can lend a hand.
“What I really understood when I sat with these different travelers from different parts of the world was, [is] One meal or one story can change their lives. “ he said.
“And these travelers, they’re not expecting to see big attractions or big monuments. They just want to know what’s going on in our daily lives…the way we live, and it actually connects two different groups,” he said.
As Gupta and his sisters developed their careers in Nepal’s tourism industry, he eventually became the Chief Experience Officer (CEO) of G Adventures in 2017.
On every trip he leads to Nepal, the lessons he learned from his mother and the women in his homestay in the Panoti community linger in the mind of Gupta.
“What I learned from my mom was how she openly welcomed the door to different strangers from all over the world, and ultimately, we became part of one big family,” he said.
“I’ve always had a welcoming, caring personality that has served me well. Now I’m focused on the same thing, which is what I learned from my mom around the world.”
Gupta feels a deep honor and responsibility to be a second-generation leader in homestays and community tourism for the Panoti community in Nepal.
Gupta said that building on the foundation created by his mother and other women, they created other initiatives, including the Bicycle Stories program for teens, in an effort to build a community-based system that could last into the future.
“The biggest challenge our country faces is a lot of young people, they are immigrating. They think the opportunity is always out there,” He said adding the program would not only provide them with job security but also show them it’s possible to thrive in their hometowns.
Gupta’s goal is to find ways for Nepali families and communities to benefit from the community tourism work he and his family do through all aspects of the work.
While many tourists often travel to Nepal to admire its famous mountains and landscapes, he hopes to do his part in making his ancestors proud by showcasing its people, stories and culture.
“We’re changing people’s lives. At the same time, we’re creating happiness for everyone. And that’s not just for travelers, but for the communities that we’re connected to.” he said.
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