JHAPA: The women of Mechinagar Municipality-4 are elated after the guests have started coming to their homestay every day.

Eight months ago, women from 14 households started the Mechi community homestay, which is now receiving local and foreign guests regularly.

Pabitra Shrestha, secretary of the homestay management committee, said domestic guests from Kathmandu to Bardia as well as from neighbouring India are arriving.

Tourists from across the border are leaving well-equipped hotels in at the border transit Kakadvitta to staty in the homestay in the village.

A fee of Rs 1,000 is charged for staying here for one night including food and accommodation, she said while adding that women’s confidence has been boosted with income from the newfound hospitality business.

The 14 households have allocated one room each for incoming guests. The number of rooms however is increased provided there are more guests arriving.

Meanwhile, Chairperson of Ward No. 4 of the municipality, Arjun Karki, said that operation of homestay has been encouraged with the aim of making women self-employed and promoting local products along with hospitality.

The ward is also planning to organised a training for the women to make the homestay service more organized.

Along with the homestay the women have also been growing crops according to the season as per the concept of collective farming, said Shrestha.