I’m Aayusha, CEO of Community Homestay Network (CHN), a social enterprise working with 51 communities across Nepal to make tourism more meaningful, inclusive, and community-led.

My journey into community tourism is deeply rooted in how I grew up. As a third-culture kid, I spent my childhood across Asia, from Mongolia to rural Myanmar, which gave me an early appreciation for different cultures, languages, and the many ways people experience a sense of home. That curiosity eventually led me to study International Development, with a focus on women-led entrepreneurship, and shaped my belief that tourism can be a powerful tool for sustainable development.

Today, I get to work alongside communities to create tourism experiences that celebrate local culture, strengthen women-led entrepreneurship, and ensure more of the value created by tourism stays where it matters most.