Homestay Tourism

Project-4: Community Based Eco Friendly Home Stay Tourism in Har-ki-Doon Valley

Har-Ki-Doon (The hanging valley of gods) is a paradise for trekkers and one of the most famous treks in the Uttarkashi district of Garhwal Himlayas. The Har-ki Doon area has the unique potential for eco- friendly home stay tourism development which is among the very few options available for economic development of the area.

Our claim is based on the following facts:

(a) The area under agriculture is about 3.97% of the total land area, about 86.21% farmer s are small and marginal have average 0.50 hectare fragmented land holding. About 88% agriculture land is rainfed.

(b) Agriculture production is quite low unable to fulfill household's yearly food need due to Lack of irrigation facilities, threat of climate change, increasing incident of disasters, small fragmented land holding and depletion of natural resources. The local families have no option but to migrate to the plain areas in search of employment opportunities.

(c) Approximately 5000 to 10000 nature lovers, trekkers used to visit the area per year. Generally the travelling agencies carry their tents for stay during trekking. Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam has also developed tourist facilities at two places.

(d) Local community has no direct economic benefit from tourism activities in the area except few youth, who providing their services as potter. The proposed project would be instrumental in increasing income of the poor families through involving local community in eco tourism business.

(e) The proposed area is cultural and socially very rich, exposing tourist to village life, local social and cultural values, traditions, architect, cousin fair and festival will helpful in maintaining local culture and social traditions.

(f) The women, member of SHG can increase their income by selling of their local products such as woolen items, Pulses, juice, etc as souvenir to the visitors.

(g) Economic benefit through home stay strategy will also trigger local community to come forward to protect and conserve natural resources of the area.

(h) There are no Home stay tourist facilities in the village of hills of Uttarakhand. The experience and model of home stay tourism may inspire other communities having similar tourist attraction to adopt it as a source of livelihood.

Projects Goal & objectives

Goal : The goal of this project is to improve the income of the local families living within the reach of tourist's attraction area of Har-ki-Doon.

Specific Objectives

(a) To involve local villages/families in home stay tourism for economic enhancement and poverty reduction.

(b) To create an affordable, reliable, effective and secure infrastructure hygienic accommodation, food, water, sanitation and guides.

(c) To develop skill of family members in hospitability management, cooking, health and hygiene, interpretation, nature guiding, bird watching, communication and marketing To facilitate marketing of the created infrastructure, facilities through website development, brochure.

(d) Leaflets, poster, sign board, networking with tour and travel agencies, participation in tour and travel events etc.