Impact of homestay tourism on livelihood : a case study of Ghale Guan,Lamjung,Nepal

This paper examines the tourism income in one of the rural village ‘Ghale gaun’ of Lamjung district of Nepal. This village has 115 household, 106 household were interviewed. Mass tourism has been widely criticised for failing to benefit local community and causing environmental and cultural damage. Homestay tourism is an alternative to this mass tourism. In this homestay tourism, tourists stay with the family of local people in rural areas instead of living in hotel or lodge like in traditional tourism. It is based on sustainable development principle, where local community will be benefited and protection of natural environment and traditional culture is covered by tourism development project. The village was selected because homestay tourism has been in practice here for many years. Tourism income contributed 23 % of the net total income, which is about three times more than livestock and agriculture income. The highest income share is from pension, which is 30%, and remittance contributes to 20.8%. On the basis of wealth, total house hold was divided into five groups, each group with same population of 21, except one group with 22 households. Among the five groups, the poorest and rich income groups are more benefited from tourism income. Tourism income has a share of 31.6% to total income of the poorest group and share of tourism income to total income in rich income group is 46%. Tourism industry has played important role in income equalling among rural household. A reduction in number of tourist arrival and stay in the study village would greatly affect the welfare of the people and widen the income gap among households