How Hospitality Projects Can Revive Rural Economies?

More Than Just a Business

When most people think of opening a homestay, they imagine the personal dream - a house in the mountains, guests coming in, some money flowing.What they don’t always see is the bigger picture: every new property is like a seed. And once planted, it doesn’t just grow one tree. It sparks an entire ecosystem.

Story: Jibhi and the Mudhouse Spark

When we built Mudhouse in Jibhi back in 2017, the valley was almost unknown. A few guesthouses, a few dhabas, that’s it. But soon travelers started coming - not just for the place, but for the community it offered. And then something beautiful happened:

• Locals opened their own cafés.

• Families started hosting homestays.

• Shops and taxis came up to serve the growing crowd.

Within a few years, Jibhi was on the map. Some call it overexposed today, but the undeniable truth is: hospitality brought new life to the local economy.

Story: Fika in Gadagusain

Gadagusain is a tiny village most people had never heard of. But when Fika Homes opened its doors, something shifted. Guests and volunteers discovered the valley, stayed with locals, bought vegetables directly from farmers, hired local jeeps. Suddenly, the village wasn’t just a dot on the map - it was part of people’s life stories.

Fika homes in snow

Story: Karyashaala in Bir

With Karyashaala, the idea wasn’t just hosting travelers, but building a bridge between freelancers and local talent. Young people from the village sat beside creators from cities, sharing skills, working together. Even though it was short-lived, for many it was their first taste of collaboration beyond their valley.

The Ripple Effect of One Property

Here’s what I’ve seen again and again:

• Jobs for Locals: Cooks, drivers, guides, staff.

• New Small Businesses: Shops, cafés, rentals, homestays.

• Skills & Exposure: Locals learning hospitality, social media, management.

• Cultural Exchange: Guests experiencing local food, music, traditions- giving them value again.

• Confidence in Youth: When outsiders value your valley, locals start valuing it too.

  
  

A Responsibility, Not Just an Opportunity

But this ripple comes with responsibility. Growth must be community-first, not exploitative. Because if the money stays only with the outsider running the property, the balance breaks. The best projects I’ve seen - and the ones I’ve tried to build - are those where locals also grow alongside the property.

Conclusion

When you open a property in the mountains, you’re not just creating a business. You’re becoming part of the village’s story.The chai shop, the vegetable farmer, the taxi driver — they all become connected to your dream. And when your project thrives, so do they.

👉 That’s the kind of hospitality I believe in — where we grow, together.