Empowering women entrepreneurs is at the heart of Nepali social enterprise Community Homestay Network (CHN), facilitated throughout their homestay activities, experience-based tourism, hospitality training, and leadership development.
Their steadfast dedication to gender equality saw them win the Accommodation category of our Gender Equality Champion of the Year Award 2025. Here CEO Aayusah Prasain reflects on the opportunities and challenges for women in tourism in Nepal, as well as ways CHN’s initiatives are spearheading change.
Through my work in community tourism, I can see firsthand tourism’s incredible potential for women’s entrepreneurship and empowerment.
Here in Nepal, an increasing number of women are stepping into more meaningful roles within tourism. Their stories reveal the transformative change dignified opportunities in this industry can bring for women and their communities, fuelling income generation and safeguarding traditions and nature along the way.
Yet equally, their stories highlight the significant journey ahead before the industry truly becomes a game-changing space for women to lead and thrive.
The Current Landscape for Nepali Women in Tourism
In Nepal, where women make up 51.04% of the population, patriarchal norms deeply limit their economic opportunities. Many remain confined to subsistence agriculture or low-wage jobs with minimal prospects for growth, while domestic responsibilities further restrict their access to resources and independence.
Tourism offers a promising avenue for empowerment. As Travel Writer and Consultant Shivya Nath highlights, it uniquely enables women in the Global South to enter the workforce while maintaining cultural traditions. This ‘soft launch’ helps women transition to financial independence without disrupting societal norms.
But barriers such as limited access to resources, networks and leadership opportunities persist. More than simply increasing workforce numbers, the industry needs to empower women to lead and shape the sector’s future, argues Co-founder and Director of TrainingAid Ayako Ezaki. That includes investing in women-owned businesses and shifting perceptions of their potential.
Empowerment in Practice Through the Community Homestay Network
One story highlighting the positive impact of this ‘soft launch’ into tourism is that of Laxmi Maharjan, a woman in her late forties.
Laxmi completed her 10th grade in a country where this was a rare achievement for women three decades ago. For years, her life was shaped by Nepal’s societal expectations: marriage, motherhood, and managing her household. The idea of starting a business or earning her own income seemed like a distant dream.
Everything changed two years ago when her neighbour Kabita introduced her to the idea of hosting a Momo Cooking Experience for travellers. Though initially hesitant and unsure of herself, Laxmi took the leap with Kabita’s encouragement and the support of Pradeep, the chairperson of the Kirtipur Community Homestay.
In the beginning, Laxmi’s nerves got the best of her, even causing her to mistakenly introduce herself as “Kirtipur,” her hometown, rather than her own name. But the welcoming and supportive environment of the women’s group helped Laxmi overcome her shyness and gain confidence. Simple acts, like greeting travelers with basic English phrases, “Thank you,” “Welcome,” and her favourite, “Excuse me” filled her with immense joy. Today, her children, who live abroad, help her improve her English over the phone, and her confidence continues to grow.
Laxmi’s journey shows just how powerful training and support can be. She had her first formal training in 2023, followed by another recently, and it’s been a game-changer for her confidence. But what’s made the biggest difference is the sense of community she’s found with the other women in her group – they’ve really had her back every step of the way.
Training Attuned to Community Needs
As Ayako puts it, successful learning is all about context, and that’s exactly what we focus on at Community Homestay Network (CHN) as well. We make sure our training for women like Laxmi fits the unique needs of the community, whether it’s about gender, location or usability of the training itself. A good needs assessment helps us figure out what people actually need, so we’re not just throwing generic solutions at them or providing training just for the sake of it.
Ayako also points out a big mistake organisations make: spending too much time on fancy training methods without understanding what people already know or making sure everyone’s on the same page.
A lack of understanding around gender dynamics in training is another persistent issue. Based on our experience most of the training schedules and formats are often biased toward men, as they tend to dominate the sector. In many parts of the developing world, women’s mobility is severely restricted, especially in the evening when training sessions are usually held. Patriarchal structures limit women’s access to information on entrepreneurship development.
Interestingly, women with strong family support tend to be more active in seeking additional assistance from organisations and show greater leadership skills. This shows the importance of not only designing context-aware training but also providing flexible structures that allow women to access opportunities on their own terms.
Breaking Stereotypes and Redefining Leadership in Nepal’s Tourism Industry
In Nepal, women in tourism have often been limited to stereotypical roles. However, the tide is turning as women break into leadership positions such as trek and tour leaders, roles historically dominated by men. Women are pushing the narrative and rewriting it, proving that with determination and support, they can thrive in these challenging and rewarding positions.
Monica, a trailblazer in Nepal’s trekking industry, reflects on her journey: “When I first began, I was constantly questioned just because I’m a woman. But I kept pushing, and now, when male assistant guides/leaders call me ‘Didi’, not for my age but for my experience, it feels like a win. I’m proving something not just to myself but for the next generation of women leaders.”
Sabnam, another trek leader, shares: “Growing up in a small village with limited opportunities for women, even my family doubted me. But I stayed determined, driven by my love for Nepal and my dream to share its beauty. I’m grateful for those who believed in me.”
These stories of resilience are echoed by others, like Juny, a new trek guide from Annapurna, whose confidence grows with each trip. Kalpana, who others once doubted in regards to her ability to lead high-altitude treks, now successfully guides groups to Everest Base Camp, proving the power of persistence.
But let’s not sugarcoat it; breaking these barriers isn’t easy.
While these successes are inspiring, they highlight the systemic challenges that remain. Cultural expectations, unequal parenting responsibilities, and gender bias continue to limit many women’s opportunities.
Changemaking Tour Operators
That’s where changemakers like Rajju Lal Maskey, General Manager of Royal Mountain Travel (RMT), come into the picture. RMT has been instrumental in creating an enabling environment for women leaders, tackling issues like ensuring equal pay and negotiating better accommodation for female trek guides. Rajju explains: “We need to reshape the system so women can succeed. Leaders, especially trek guides, need both mental and physical strength to handle diverse groups, manage logistics, and maintain group dynamics. It’s our responsibility to ensure they’re treated equally and given the respect they deserve.”
RMT’s efforts extend beyond logistics to fostering a culture of equality. Rajju personally inspects hotels to ensure trek leaders receive equitable treatment. He recalls that, “There was a time when negotiating for basic accommodation for leaders regardless of gender was a challenge. Now, it’s easier, but this progress didn’t happen overnight. Organisations and travel agencies like ours have had to take a stand, ensuring these issues don’t hinder women leaders from focusing on their work.”
Global leaders in small group adventure travel, like G Adventures, further amplify this shift by redefining leadership roles in tourism. They’ve replaced traditional job titles like “tour guide” with “Chief Experience Officer (CEO),” emphasising the importance and respect these roles deserve.
A tour leader, or CEO, needs to manage and take charge in many areas. They’re responsible for handling trip logistics, as well as managing group dynamics. The group often consists of around 15 individuals, coming from different nationalities and age groups ranging from 18 to 60 years, which requires strong leadership and adaptability.
G Adventures operates tours across the world, including in Nepal, ensuring their shared values of inclusivity and empowerment are upheld globally. This commitment is opening doors for women in the region to break free from stereotypes and excel as leaders in tourism.
Women, Tourism, and the Ripple Effect of Empowerment
Women’s involvement in tourism sparks powerful ripple effects, driving growth that transforms families and communities across generations. Priyanka Singh, Regional Manager at Planeterra, points out that financially independent women tend to reinvest in their families’ education and healthcare, creating broader social change. As a strategic partner of Planeterra, we have been working with numerous communities to co-develop, facilitate and scale responsible tourism initiatives.
One of the key ways we make a difference is by helping women turn unpaid labour into meaningful economic opportunities. Laxmi’s story is a perfect example. With support from Planeterra, she and the other women in her group in Kirtipur have turned what was once unpaid work into something really meaningful. By sharing traditional meals and stories with travellers, Laxmi helps put her community on the tourism map while inspiring other women to follow her lead, whether that’s pursuing their passions or starting their own businesses. The steady flow of travellers has given them a real boost, building their confidence and providing a reliable income, helping them thrive in tourism and step up as leaders in their communities.
Challenging Assumptions
The journey towards a more inclusive tourism industry is also about challenging biases, amplifying marginalised voices, and providing enabling and strengthening environments where women thrive.
Kaushal Shrestha, a Data and Marketing Analyst, recalls a pivotal moment that transformed his perspective on gender and travel. During his time at CHN, Kaushal hesitated to consider a woman for a product development role focused on solo travel and community engagement, citing concerns about her safety. However, the candidate proved his assumptions wrong with her confidence and capability.
Reflecting on the experience, Kaushal admits, “That moment was a wake-up call. I realised my assumptions were part of the problem. It taught me that we must challenge these ingrained stereotypes if we want to achieve real progress.”
This anecdote highlights the importance of openness and introspection in breaking down biases that limit opportunities for women in tourism. Gender dynamics often still reflect traditional roles, with men taking on public-facing responsibilities while women handle behind-the-scenes hospitality.
At CHN, dismantling these barriers is a core focus. Through tailored capacity-building programmes, we have supported women transitioning from traditional roles to becoming homestay entrepreneurs, local guides, and community leaders. These efforts help women find their voices and redefine their roles within families and communities.
Across our work, we ensure that women are given the tools, networks and visibility needed to overcome entrenched biases.
A More Inclusive Future for Tourism
The stories of trailblazers like Monica, Kalpana and Laxmi show the potential of tourism for empowerment, when the right opportunities and enabling environments are in place. However, these victories also highlight the need for systemic change through equitable policies, context-aware training, and the dismantling of patriarchal norms.
At CHN, we’re fully committed to making this change happen. We’re focused on building strong support networks, creating more opportunities for women to lead, and making sure their voices are heard in Nepal’s tourism sector.
Receiving the Gender Equality Champion of the Year Award has reinforced our belief in the power of gender equality, especially in supporting the empowerment journey of women entrepreneurs. The application process pushed us to take the crucial step of formally solidifying our commitments by properly documenting them, creating lasting systems of change.
There’s still a lot of work to be done, but we’re more motivated than ever to keep advancing equality and opportunity for all. There are so many examples of progress to look up to and be inspired by in the industry. If we all continue to learn from these, we can make tourism a real game-changer for creating a more inclusive, equitable and sustainable world.
Learn about another tourism social enterprise creating change for women in our interview with Jess Brooks, founder of Eternal Landscapes Mongolia – our 2023 Travel & Destinations Gender Equality Champion.
