Nepal attracts thousands of tourists every year. This has brought enormous benefits earning millions of dollars and providing employment to thousands. However, those benefits have come at a cost. Tourism has had a negative impact on the environment. It has led to an erosion in cultural values. It has not benefited the poor in remote rural communities where trekkers travel. Instead of helping to alleviate poverty tourism has widened the gap between the rich and poor. CCODER has developed an innovative alternative to minimize these negative effects and provide benefits to the community.

Community Tourism is a women-centered enterprise. In Nepal's economy the role of women is hidden. Tourism serves as a tool to bring women forward. Community Tourism is a means to break the cycle of poverty by providing socio-economic opportunities.

Objectives:

• To generate income for rural families.
• To generate rural employment and help in the advancement of women.
• To protect the environment.

Community Tourism can be replicated by communities if they follow the guidelines and programs developed by CCODER.

The results to date are very encouraging. The beneficaries have been organized. Credit tools have been-developed and groups are functioning well.

CCODER villages are neat and clean. Most of the households have latrines. Trails in the villages have been improved.

There are 75 groups in twelve Village Development Committees in Gorkha. Each group on the trekking route will develop its village as a Tourist Village.

In two villages, Dhansar and Lamidada in Gorkha, houses have been numbered and guest rooms are available. At present, this infrastructure is used for community development purposes. We are nearly at the end of phase II in these villages.

Community Tourism is an income generating program. It is based on the mobilization of locally available resources through participation of the community. "Spillover effects" will likewise be substantial: market for local products, arts and crafts, cross-cultural exchange, employment and investment opportunities will be accessible. The outcome is self-empowerment.

Community Tourism was implemented in Gorkha in 1991. In Five years the following have been achieved:

• A marketing network has been established.
• An income - generating program has been targeted, tested and implemented.
• The creation and promotion of a rural financial institution was accomplished.
• An appropriate education program has been designed and established.
• Beneficiary organizations are strong, with an increase in socio-economic activities.

Community Tourism helps to generate income in poor communities even in rural, remote areas. Based on our findings so far, Community Tourism will prove to be a vital tool for alleviating poverty.

CCODER is an independent non-profit, non-governmental organization established in 1990 by Govinda Pd. Dhital and recognized by His Majesty's Government of Nepal. CCODER is a forum of dedicated social workers who believe in the concept of self-reliant development of the underprivileged by the under privileged.

CCODER is comprised of a management team which coordinates the efforts of social workers, planners, implementers, representatives from beneficiary organizations, and energetic and dedicated students from various schools and universities.

CCODER is dedicated to helping villages to self-direct and to highly participative people's organizations capable of discovering for themselves the needs and resources of their communities and consequently work together to achieve goals that are beneficial to their communities through socio-economic activities.